











tl-' . " 



lis 









M //h « %rt^ ,. V 



"» ♦ 








% 9-^ ^ 

^«i,^ 








.V sw^^^'^ -^^^^ o^.;^!^- '^bv^ 






















%**'^^-' .^o 










^^-n^. 




4 o 














^* . 




Ay til. • 




•- '-^o^ .-. 



7 , ^^ 




4 O 



^,* '^.^ '^<?' 

« ay o 






4 o 



t\ •^^<^ 









v-s* 



•° ^* ^^ 






















< V ■>-' ■ » » » «• ' % J. " • • .V %-- ' • • • *• 






.0' 



''oS^ 



'>n^ 



'<^:; 






Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
in 2010 witii funding from 
Tine Library of Congress 



Iittp://www.arcliive.org/details/liistoryofvalleyf01wood 



THE HISTORY 
VALLEY FORGE 




Henry Woodman 





HENRY WOODMAN 



THE HISTORY OF 
VALLEY FORGE 



By HENRY WOODMAN 



£7 



WITH A BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR AND THE AUTHOR'S 

FATHER WHO WAS A SOLDIER WITH WASHINGTON AT 

VALLEY FORGE DURING THE WINTERS OF 1777 AND 1778 



AUTHORIZED BY THE WOODMAN FAMILY 



PUBLISHED BY 

JOHN U. FRANCIS, SR. 
OAKS, PA. 

1920 






Copyright, 1920 

BY 

John U. Francis, Sr, 



©Cf.A565893 
MAV I i 1920 




GENERAL WASHINGTON 



The History of Valley Forge 



PREFACE 

LARGE portrait of a plain, unassuming man was hanging 
on the wall of the old Camp School-house in Valley Forge 
park, when John U. Francis, Sr., publisher of this history, 
took charge. Father was born in Lower Providence township, 
just across the Schuylkill river from the Cradle of American Lib- 
erty. His great-grandfather. Captain Arnold Francis, had com- 
manded the Providence militia and had rendered conspicuous 
service under Washington at Valley Forge. In the family, Valley 
Forge was sacred ground and to the name of Washington was 
rendered a homage hardly due to mortal man. In keeping with 
the suffering endured, a resentment toward British arrogance was 
developed which even to-day causes the eye to flash at the slight- 
est semblance of the thing on our national horizon. A patriotism 
purer than father's we have never met. To tell the story of 
Valley Forge, than whom no man knows it better, and to provide 
for visitors to the park suitable souvenirs has been to him a labor 
of love. The publication of this history is a becoming climax of 
his labors. 

But year after year the portrait continued to hang on the wall. 
When at times we visited the Park and inquired. Whose is that 
portrait? practically no light could be given. "It was sent down 
from Headquarters." Some one knew better than father. In 
the summer of 1919 a group of visitors entered the School-house. 
One of the ladies pointed to the portrait and said : "That is a 
portrait of my grandfather, Henry Woodman. He wrote the 
first history of Valley Forge." The lady was Mrs. Alice Wood- 
man Smith of Wycombe, Bucks county. Pa. She promised a let- 
ter giving particulars, and in due time one was received. Miss 
Mary S., daughter of Henry Woodman, a lady now of some 
eighty summers, was the embodiment of the first commandment 
with promise. She had had a small portrait of her father en- 
larged and had sent it to the Headquarters at Valley Forge. As 
already stated, from there it was sent down to the old Camp 
School-house. 



8 The History of \'alley Forge 

Henry Woodman, after many years of urging, wrote his his- 
tory of \'alley Forge. His home was now near Doylestov-^n, 
Bucks county. Pa. It was in 1850 that he wrote, and for The 
Doylestown Intelligencer. It appeared in the shape of letters for 
thirty-two consecutive weeks, from April 30 to December 3. 
There is internal evidence that the history at that time awakened 
national interest. It seems to have been copied by other news- 
papers. A\'oodman was requested to print it in book form, but 
never did so. Through his granddaughter, Mrs. Smith, it was 
learned where the text of his history could be found. Invaluable 
service and utmost courtesy were received from the Historical 
Societies of Montgomery and Bucks counties; and acknowledge- 
ments for the same are herewith made. The book as now pub- 
lished is authorized by the Woodman family. 

The advice of John W. Jordan, LL.D., historian of the Valley 
Forge Park Commission, seems to us to be good, viz., that we 
leave \\'oodman tell his own story, his whole story, and without 
any attempt at editing. Consequently no editing has been done. 
^^'oodman himself in one of the last letters, says that if the his- 
tory were published in book form, he would make some gramma- 
tical corrections. Evident errors of this nature have been cor- 
rected, but it is believed that in no way has the individuality of the 
writer been marred. 

As to the unique fitness of Henr>-A\^oodman to write the his- 
tory of \"alley Forge, we refer you to the sketch of him by his 
daughter. Miss Mary S. Woodman, p. 19, and then to the sketch 
of his father. Edward Woodman, p. II, also by Miss Mar>^ S. 
Woodman. But the book must be read to perceive his surpassing 
fitness. His mother is his heroine. She was nineteen 3'ears of 
age when the army encamped at \'alley Forge, and she resided 
within the lines of the encampment. She was recognized in her 
day as a living historv' of it. 

It has been urged against Woodman that he received his in- 
formation in his earlier years, that he wrote at the age of fifty-five, 
and after he had been away from \'alley Forge for a quarter of a 
century, that he wrote only from memory-, without am- official 
papers at hand. In reply we beg to say that he had been told the 
stories o'er and o'er in youth by his father, who had been a soldier 
in the camp here, who tramped with him over the old encampment 



The History of Valley Forge 9 

grounds from his fifth year and upward, and the father's delight 
was to explain to his son. He had heard his mother ever and 
anon tell of "those times." Henry later took visitors over the 
grounds and acted as informant, reiterating the stories told him. 
He had heard the old ladies, lasses at Valley Forge in 1778, re- 
count in conclave to each other encampment reminiscences. Bring 
up a child in the way in which he should go and when he is old he 
will not depart from it. Beside his mother lived up almost to 
the time that he wrote ; and his mother's sister was still living. 
This sister was nine years old at the time of the encampment and 
was a favorite of Baron DeKalb. At the time of writing Wood- 
man interviewed others who had lived at Valley Forge during the 
memorable time. Also he had helped old soldiers who had been 
there to get pensions and had assisted others in securing money 
from the government for damages incurred through the encamp- 
ment. Furthermore, he frequently discussed Valley Forge mat- 
ters with men of intelligence, of patriotism, and of affairs. He 
had been a school teacher, a scrivener, a surveyor at Valley Forge, 
and a Quaker preacher, all of which tended to make him capable, 
exact and conscientious, and consequently more reliable. He 
wrote when he was mature and before his faculties were im- 
paired. Who can doubt that Providence prepared him for his 
task? Surely his history may be received with confidence. 

The Quaker has been stigmatized as pro-Tory. Valley Forge 
was a Quaker settlement. William Penn had given his daughter 
Letitia a manor here of more than 1000 acres; and she in 1705 
built what it now known as the old Camp School-house, at present 
the quarters of the publisher of this history. Here Henry Wood- 
man attended school ; and it is most fitting that his history should 
now go forth from its walls to educate the nation on Valley Forge, 
The Quakers were opposed to war ; as a class they were second to 
none in devotion to the interests of the colonies. H some were 
pro-Tory, this cannot be said of Henry Woodman. His father, 
an Episcopalian by birth, practically a Quaker or Friend at death, 
was through the Revolution from start to finish, from Carolina to 
Massachusetts. No purer American blood ever flowed than that 
which coursed through the veins of Henry Woodman. His was 
red blood, but not too red. His love for Valley Forge is exactly 
the spirit toward it that should be fostered in American homes. 
Valley Forge is our national center. Woodman is an expression 



lo The History of Valley Forge 

of American life, not a superimposition upon it. His history 
should be in every American home. 

He gives the history of Valley Forge from the time his ances- 
tor Evan ap Bevan in 1696 took up here 2000 acres of virgin land, 
down through the Revolution to the time he wrote the history.. 
Some parts will be found of more interest than others. He not 
only introduces us to but causes us to form the acquaintance of 
the generals of Washingtons' army. Baron DeKalk was quar- 
tered at the home of Woodman's grandfather. H the Frenchman 
Lafayette was wounded for our independence, for our independ- 
ence the Prussian DeKalb made the supreme sacrifice ; also Baron 
Von Steuben, another Prussian, made Washington's army strong 
unto invincibility. But we must uphold Poland for Kosciusko's 
sake. We can hardly forgive Lafayette for not coming to Valley 
Forge when he visited America. Every true American rejoices 
that we could pay our debts to France and Poland ; but read and 
answer to your own conscience whether we owe a debt to Prussia. 
The World War is over, and the words of Lincoln are suited to 
every American: "With malice toward none, with charity for all." 
We are sure that this is the spirit of Woodman's history of Valley 
Forge. 

J. G. Francis. 
Lebanon, Pa., Feb. 12, 1920. 



The History of Valley Forge ii 



INTRODUCTION 
EDWARD WOODMAN 

A sketch by his granddaughter, Miss Mary S. Woodman, for his 
descendants. 

EARLY LIFE 

It may be said that Edward Woodman is the first one of the family we 
know 01 with any certainty. He was born in Chestertown, Md., on Christ- 
mas Day, 1749. His parents, whose Christian names are not known by the 
writer, were of Englisli origin or direct from England. But it is supposed 
they were descendants of the New England pioneers that settled at New- 
buryport, Mass., and were among the settlers. (A genealogy written by 
Cyrus Woodman, one of the New England Woodmans, gives a very inter- 
esting account of them down to the present day. They were a sturdy and 
upright people.) 

His father, he was told, died in August, before his birth. His mother 
landed at Chestertown soon after the death of her husband, which occurred 
at sea. From what has been told the writer, it is safe to conclude his par- 
ents had previously established a home at Chestertown. His earliest re- 
membrance of himself was living with his mother, an old negress and a 
negro lad at Chestertown. His mother died when he was quite young. He 
could remember his baptism in the Episcopal church. Whether his mother 
was living at the time is not known. After the death of his mother, he 
was taken into the family of William Clayton, also the two negroes. The 
old woman curled his hair and dressed him, besides other things needful in 
the care of a child. All the comforts of that early time were bestowed 
upon the little orphan boy. A pony was kept for his sole use. When the 
boy Edward was old enough to go to school, the pony was saddled and he 
rode it, the negro boy walking along side, carrying a basket with his dinner 
in it. When the school closed for the day, the negro came with the pony 
to take him back to the Clayton home. The negro boy often told him he 
owned the old woman and himself, and that they did not belong to Master 
William Clayton. From the care taken of him by the two slaves, and many 
other attentions he received, we suppose he was the owner of property, 
real or personal, and that William Clayton was the guardian. 

Things went well with the boy while William Clayton lived. Judging 
from the many things he used to tell of boyish tricks and pranks of which 
he was guilty, not sinful but annoying to those who had to live with him, 
he certainly was not always a pleasure to the Clayton family. William 
Clayton and his wife were 've-v kind to him at all times, Mrs. Clayton often 
taking him with her when she went on horseback to visit her friends. He 
was on his pony, one or more of the daughters on their ponies, all going 
on a visit, where he was given a full share of all the pleasures of the table 
and household. How long William Clayton lived after he took his ward 
into his family I cannot say. He was a kind man to all his family and 
slaves. To his daughters and the orphan whom he sheltered he was over 
indulgent, at least so the boy thought after he came to the mature thoughts 
of manhood. He used afterwards to say sometimes, "What a spoiled, 
careless, disagreeable boy I must have have been !" 



12 The History of \'allev Forge 

FOUR YEARS WITH PIRATES 

Time, which brings changes to all things, brought a great change to 
young Edward. When he was thirteen or fourteen years old, he did not 
remember the exact age at the time, he took life into his own management. 
Williom Clayton was dead but he was still with the widow and daughters. 
The girls scolded him so much and so often he got tired of it, so concluded 
to run away. 

Claj'ton owned a ship tliat traded between Chestertown and the Island 
of Barbadoes. The ship was back from a voyage and loading for another. 
A good opportunity thought the boy, so off he went, the thoughtless, mis- 
guided little fellow. The sailors hid him from the captain, till tlie ship 
was so far out thjit he could not be put ashore. On the return voyage the 
captain thought to add still more to the profits, either for the Clayton fam- 
ily or for himself. So he sailed to Virginia, disposed of his cargo, re- 
loaded and set sail again, bound for Halifax. The breezes may have been 
good, and the skies fair, but fortune was not so kind. When only a few 
days out, tliey were run down, captured and robbed of such things as were 
wanted by a ship that had sailed under letters of marque, authorized by 
the English government to prey upon the French during the French and 
Indian War in Canada. The war being over, the captain and the crew 
banded themselves into a perfectly lawless set, that lived by stealing on 
land and sea whatever they could without danger to themselves. What 
became of Clayton's ship, captain or crew, I am unable to say further than 
that they were allowed to go unhurt. But the young wayfaring boy was 
talien from it and put on board the pirate vessel. After getting enough 
for their wants awhile, they would go to some remote part of tlie W^est 
Indies or elsewhere. When it was consumed, out again for another voyage 
of plunder twice going south of the equator. Though theft was the means 
by which they lived, no murder or otlier outrage was committed. They 
were simply vagabonds on sea. Little Ned was not asked to do anything 
he did not wish to, was treated with kindness at all times, but the life of 
a half pirate did not accord with his nature. Nature will under adverse 
conditions, in part if not entirely, assert itself. So in tlie case of tlie 
captive boy a secret desire was ever present in his mind to get away from 
his dishonest captors. Four years passed before the opportunity came to 
escape. 

The ship was sailing off the coast of North Carolina. In some way it 
became unseaworthy and put into one of tlie ports of that colony. Seeing 
his time had come, he made good his escape, and ran back into the thinly 
settled parts of the country, and worked for the settlers till he felt safe 
in going to the more populous parts of the colony. So far as there is any 
accoinit of his life in North Carolina, he lived in several different places. 
At one time he lived at or near New Garden, a settlement of Friends from 
New Garden, Chester county. Pa. On another occasion Col. Henderson 
(see history of North Carolina) was collecting supplies to fill a treaty with 
the Indians of the frontier. He took fifty men, each furnished with a horse 
to ride. The horse, in addition to carrying the rider, was loaded with a 
large saddle-bag, in each end of which was a little keg of rum and small 
trinkets for the Indians. Still more each man led two pack horses loaded 
with blankets, knives and other things. Edward Woodman was one of 
these men. Daniel Boone was the guide and assistant of Col. Henderson. 

THE BATTLE OF MOORE'S CREEK BRIDGE 

The family accounts of my grandfather are so fragmentary, I write 
with constant fear my history may not be correct or properly connected. 
At one time he lived in Tvrell eountv. On the outbreak of the Revolution- 



The History of Valley Forge 13 

ary War, his home was near Hillsboro, where, in company with many 
others of the patriots, he was drilling for whatever service they might be 
called on to perform. The officers under whom the patriots were enlisted 
were Gen. Moore and Col. Caswell. One day when they were at work in 
the fields, a company came saying they were organizing with all possible 
speed and were to repair to the home of Col. Caswell, near what is now 
Fayetteville, N. C. He ungeared "the critters" (horses), gave them to the 
charge of a black boy at work with him, at the same time telling him to go 
in the house and say to the women folks that when he came back he would 
bid them good-bye. Little did or could he foresee the many privations 
and hardships before him or that he would never see the women folks 
again. 

The cause for the sudden calling together of the minute men was to 
intercept a body of Scotch and Irish settlers, together with the Tories to 
the number of 1500, under the command of Major Gen. McCloud and Brig.- 
Gen. McDonald. A correspondence had been carried on between Sir. 
Henry Clinton at New York and Gen. McCloud. Their plan was for Clin- 
ton to send a fleet that should sail up the Cape Fear river to Wilmington 
and there land. McCloud would there join Sir Henry's men, and the 
united forces were then to march throughout the colony and subdue the 
patriots and thus secure N. C. to the English. 

The enemy met with no opposition till one day's march from Wilming- 
ton. Gen. Moore being apprized from the first, unknown to McCloud, was 
watching his movements from the rear. Caswell with 900 men went ahead and 
placed them in ambush on the opposite side of the bridge spanning Moore's 
Creek. The bridge was reached through a long narrow defile of hills on 
each side that prevented retreat. General McCloud, dressd in Highland, 
uniform, as were also his men, came riding on the bridge, waved his sword 
and called on his men to follow. Half the flooring of the bridge on the side 
on which the patriots lay had been removed. At that point McCloud halted. 
On the instant Col. Caswell opened fire, killing General McCloud and all 
who were on the bridge. Gen. McDonald rallied the men and fired, but 
with no effect, Caswell's men being so well protected by tall trees and 
underwood. Caswell returned the fire with such deadly effect and the 
enemy lost so heavily that Gen. McDonald soon made a complete surrender. 
Officers and men took oath not to engage again against the colonists. All 
were sent under guard to their homes except 300 Scotchmen, who were held 
as hostages and exchanged for our men who were confined on prison ships. 

WOODEN PINS FOR FORT MOULTRIE 

The battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Feb. 27, 1T76, marks the time when 
Edward Woodman entered the American army. The next active service 
he saw was when the British fleet appeared off Charleston, S. C, and 
attacked the fortifications on Sullivan's Island, June 4, 1776. Edward was 
one of the soldiers who helped build Fort Moultrie, the palmetto logs being 
fastened together with wooden pins which he and nineteen others had 
been detached to make. He was not given to boasting but was always 
proud of having been one of the twenty men who made the woodeh pins. 

OFF TO THE NORTH 

As soon as the British sailed away, the division to which he was attached 
was ordered to march north. After marching thirty days over bad roads, 
much of the way only horse paths, many of the men had died from heat 
and fatigue. The horses . became so lame that the men walked much of the 
way. They could get plenty to eat. "The time for empty stomachs," he 
used facetiously to say, "had not yet come," at the same time giving a merry 



14 The History of Valley Forge 

wink with his bright blue eyes. When they had reached within one day's 
march of Boston, they were* turned and sent to Long Island, where Wash- 
ington met a serious defeat. He saw much hard fighting and skirmishing 
on Long Island. The officers under whom he came north cannot be named, 
but they were now attached to Washington's army, and for the greater 
number" of the ensuing years shared all the hardships and privations of that 
heroic band of officers and men. 

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON 

In the late autumn of 1776 Washington was encamped on the bank of 
the Delaware river, upon Jericho Hill, near McConky's Ferry, in Bucks 
county, Penn. The army was much reduced in numbers, owing to much 
discontent among the soldiers, caused largely by their poor clothing and 
not having been paid money due them. Many whose term of enlistment 
had expired returned to their homes. Our brave grandfather remained firm 
and true to the cause of Independence. On that memorable night of 
Christmas, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware at McConky's Ferry, 
now known as Taylorsville. Of this crossing into New Jersey we all know 
the results "from the books we have read." Gen. Sullivan crossed ahead of 
his men. When his horse was over, he mounted and sat silently watching 
his soldiers till all were over. Then, taking a pinch of snuff, he said, 
"Come on, boys." And onward they went through darkness and snow. 

An incident occurred that night which was the experience of one or 
more of Edward Woodman's friends (they had likes and dislikes among 
their comrades), a memory of whom held a place in his heart through life. 
Though the greater part of the army crossed at McConky's Ferry, two 
companies went up to Coryell's Ferry (New Hope), where they ferried 
across. Having first to go up the river and then down in the darkness 
and snow, daylight came" before they reached Trenton. At length they 
came upon a better road and all took to running. When nearing Trenton 
the officer called a holt and told them to slow and to form in line so as to 
be ready for action. After going forward a few hundred yards in good 
order, they saw and heard three fifers coming to meet them playing, 
"White Cockade and Peacock Feather, American Boys Fight Forever." 
The music told the victory, the line broke immediately. Every man felt 
tired and hungry, a feeling he had not thought of before he saw the fifers. 
A more limp and lazy set of soldiers never before marched into a place of 
victory. If any of their descendants desire to know in what part of the 
capture of Trenton grandfather participated, by consulting history and 
finding the part of Gen. Sullivan, it can be known. That was the com- 
mand" he was under. After the capture of Trenton and the Battle of 
Princeton, he was still alive, still sharing the privations and hardships of 
his patriotic comrades. 

A HORSE'S BREATH 

There is another incident connected with his army life that may come in 
here, as I do not know where he was at the time it occurred. Winter was 
approaching. An officer with a small squad of soldiers was sent to examine 
a place which lay some miles distant from wliere the army was encamped, 
the object being to search for a good sitiiation for winter quarters. One 
blanket, a gun and some ammunition was all they carried with them. After 
a day of more than usual fatigue, they lay down on the ground with their 
guns beside them, all near together to keep warmer. It was already dark. 
The officer and men were sure there were no British in the neighborhood. 
So sure were they, no guard was placed over them, a great mistake, for 
one of the men awoke in the night and going a little distance from the 



The History of Valley Forge 15 

others, found they were surrounded by British horsemen. The order was 
"Every man run and save his life as he can." Grandfather had not run 
far when he felt the breath of a horse against his face. Turning around 
he saw the rider bending forward to strike him with his sword. Being too 
quick for him, he ran his bayonet into his assailant's abdomen. The man 
gave a scream, turned his horse and rode away. Aunt Ruth said her father 
always spoke of the events of that time with sadness. He would say, "That 
poor man was the only person I ever knew to a certainty I killed." Run- 
ning on he came to a woods and going into it a short distance he found 
himself on a steep hill. Knowing he could not be followed, he hunted for 
a big tree and sat down on the sheltered side with his back to the trunk, and 
was soon asleep. On waking in the morning (as he thought) the sun was 
up. Looking around he saw only a few feet from where he had spent the 
night a high rocky bank with a deep creek at the bottom. Again his life 
had been spared by not falling over and drowning. Coming from another 
direction and leading down the hill was a well trodden path. Following 
it he saw two sets of farm buildings on the other side of the creek. After 
walking more than a mile he came upon foot-stones. The path led up to 
one of the farm houses, where they gave him his supper and shelter for the 
night. The sun was almost set. He had slept in the woods nearly the 
whole day. When the sun had risen in the morning, it had shone through 
the leafless trees and warmed him so he slept till after noon. The house 
was filled with women and children, the men of both families being in the 
American army. The women and children, from a grandmother to a nurs- 
ing child, were living together to help each other as best they could. The 
other house was abandoned. Morning came and he was about to leave, 
when one of the women said: "Soldier, you are numbered with the dead. 
Stay and work for us; we need your help so much." He had told them 
how he came to be there and of the skirmish in the night. The offer was 
good, the summer campaign was over, so he stayed and worked hard in 
preparing material for a fence which the women and children could build 
in the spring. He was well clothed and fed, even had stockings and shoes, 
the only ones he ever got during his whole term of service in the Revolution. 
The shoes he had on when first sent north wore out on the march and he 
afterward went barefoot with the one exception. He did not suffer so 
much as many of his comrades, whose feet often cracked and bled. It 
was his practice often to wash his feet, which he thought was the cause of 
their always being so sound and well. 

Spring came and the one v/hose life we are trying to follow turned 
his mind again to what he felt to be his greatest duty. Taking his gun one 
morning in March and bidding the family farewell, he trudged off to the 
army again. On reaching the encampment he asked to see Gen. Sullivan. 
The officer who received him asked many questions. What had he come 
there for? Why must he see Gen. Sullivan? etc., etc. Handing the officer 
his gun, he answered: "Search me well, see that I have nothing with 
which to injure the commander, and take me to him. I have something to 
say to him I can say to no one else." To Sullivan he was sent, and he 
told his story — how he had escaped in the night and where the winter was 
spent, and gave his reasons for not returning sooner. "Now the time is 
come I might be needed. Here I am, you see." The General listened 
quietly to all he had to say, then answered: "My boy, I am glad you are 
back and gladder yet you are alive." Then giving him a hearty hand- 
shake and a pinch of snuff", he sent him back to his place in the ranks of 
the army. The reason for insisting to see Sullivan was that if he reported 
to any other officer, the danger of being treated as a deserter was hanging 
over him. Sullivan was a man of such nobility of character, no fear was 
to be apprehended from that score. 

It is to be regretted we do not know in what locality the foregoing 



i6 The History of \'alley Forge 

occurrence happened, but suppose it somewhere in New England. It was 
so cold the milk froze in their living room. Nor do we know the date of 
the winter. 

AT BRAND^^WINE AND GERMANTOWN 

In August, 1777, Washington with his army was encamped in Warwick 
township, Bucks county, Pa. Wm. J. Buck states there were Nortli Caro- 
lina trotips among them. We suppose our grandfatlier was there. Family 
annals tell to a certainty he was in the Battle of Brandv«-ine, Sept. II, 
1777; and also at Germantown, Oct. 3, 1777. In the death of Gen. Nash, 
which occurred in the latter battle, he suffered what he always felt to be a 
personal loss. They had been acquainted in Nortli Carolina, and through- 
out all the changes, hard or easy, that tlie fortunes of war brought to them. 
Gen. Nash was his firm friend. Our grandfather was near him when he 
fell. He was one to help bear him from the field and to bury him in the 
graveyard belonging to the church at Toamencin, Pa. 

AT VALLEY FORGE 

Throughout all his wanderings, far or near, tliere is no place around 
which so much interest centers or so great a desire is felt by his descend- 
ants to know all about him as Ms coming to ^'alley Forge, Dec, 1777. 

Very soon after the army became encamped, smallpox broke out. Our 
great-grandfather Abijah Stephens went early every morning to the camp 
and stayd late in the evening, waiting on the sick. One evening when he 
came home, he said to his wife: "Priscilla, there is a soldier that helps me 
to nurse the sick, that came from North Carolina, he told me to-day. He 
knows thy brother, William Thomas. He has worked for him and other 
Friends who went from Chester county." 

Twice the soldier was brought home by the "Doctor" to see Priscilla, 
but how long tlie visits were is not told, though she was well pleased with 
him on both occasions. After he married her daughter, she became much 
attached to him. Aunt Ruth said: "Well she might be, for he was faithful 
in all tilings, great or small, that added to her comfort or happiness." 

In June, 177S, Washington moved the army from Valley Forge; and 
among the 11,CX)0 the ragged, barefooted soldier, that was in the future to 
become our grandfather, marched away with no thought or expectation of 
ever returning. 

HIS WAR RECORD 

It would be a pleasure to give some of tlie varying vicissitudes through 
which, with his comrades in arms, he was destined to pass before fate sent 
his returning footsteps to the home of Abijah Stephens. 

He enrolled himself with the first movement in North Carolina, en- 
countered the first fighting at Moore's Creek Bridge, N. C, under command 
of Gon. Moore and Col. Caswell. His second term of enlistment expired 
August, 1782. The long Revolution was nearly over for tlie Colonies, for 
him it was ended. The division in which he was serving lay somewhere in 
the vicinity of New York City. During his campaign of service he met th» 
enemii »'i times, some of them skirmishes. At Trenton there was no fight- 
ing. At no time was he wounded badly enough to leave the field, though 
the greater number of the engagements were hard battles, jxnd in several 
he was exposed to great peril. Neither was he ever sick. Having had the 
smallpox, he escaped that when it raged with such violence at Valley Forge. 
Thus we see him leaving the last scenes of war sound and well. 



The History of Valley Forge i/ 

ON THE HOMEWARD WAY 

Two others who had enlisted at the same time he did, like him were at 
liberty to so home. The three started for North Carolina, getting food at 
the farm houses on the way. One of the men proposed that they go by 
way of Valley Forge and see how the encampment looked by that time. 
Grandfather answered: "That is exactly the thing to do. I know Dr. 
Stephens. He and his wife are benevolent Quakers, a good place to put 
into for a few days and< get rested, fed up and may be clothed." There 
was a little irony in saying "may be clothed." From the account that 
comes down of the condition their clothing was in, to be clothed was a 
foregone necessity. 

To all who came to the hospitable home of Abijah Stephens, the latch 
string hung out. But our returning patriots could not enter when they 
reached that open door. The miserable rags they wore were so completely 
worn out, not one of them was fit to appear in the presence of women. 
The barn afforded a place of refuge. A call brought the men. Food was 
given them. Grandmother Stephens, whose benevolence knew no bounds 
and whose generosity never failed, soon had sufficient clothing gathered 
together for their necessities. Trout Creek was near, no time was lost in 
availing themselves of its waters. With hair cut and combed, clothed in 
clean raiment, shaved with a razor (in the army their beards had to be cut 
with scissors) they went to the house and ate supper with the family off a 
table. Taking chairs outside they sat around for a friendly talk. It takes 
little effort of the imagination to suppose their feelings on that evening. 
It seemed the foreshadow of Paradise. 

At the time of which I write, there were many families aroimd the 
Valley, Radnor, and Newtown Square who had relatives residing in North 
Carolina. The men were asked to stay till letters could be written for them 
to take to the friends and relatives so far away. Two weeks passed, the 
letters were written, the seed wheat they had engaged to thresh was done, 
the time to go was fixed upon, the morning came, Edward Woodman was 
sick and not able to go. Both the others had left good homes and parents 
they were anxious to reach and see. They went on, leaving their companion 
prostrate at the home of Abijah and Priscilla Stephens. For many days it 
was thought he would never get well. He never did fully recover a giddi- 
ness in his head, which followed the fever. It would attack him at times 
during his whole life and in the end caused his death. Years after when 
William Thomas visited his relatives in Chester county, he said the letters 
were not received, that the men did not reach their homes. They were in 
all probability takn with the same fever and died on the homeward journey. 

After his recovery Edward Woodman worked for different persons. The 
vicinity of Valley Forge became his home. At one time he worked for 

Walker, a carpenter. The new-found home that at first seemed only 

chance proved permanent, and at last became his final resting place. When 
able to go to work, he left the Stephen's home and did not again become a 
resident of the household until his marriage gave him an assured place in 
the family. 

A HOME IN THE VALLEY 

Edward Woodman and Sarah Stephens were married about five years 
after he came to Chester Valley. They settled on the little farm that 
Grandfather Stephens gave them. The land was to be her dower and was 
taken off the lower end of the Stephen's farm. It was located on the Trout 
Run in what is locally known as the Valley. The public road running 
from Port Kennedy to King-of-Prussia passes through the land. 



1 8 The History of Valley Forge 

On the morning of Dec. 23, 1820, some persons that lived among the 
Valley Hills came to the door begging, and went away saying they would be 
back and get the things. So many demands had been made that season, 
grandmother felt all she had to give was already gone and had said so to 
the family at breakfast. Grandfather had finished up the chores about the 
barn, came to the window calling: "Sally, do not send the poor helpless 
creatures away from our door empty-handed, they are so needy. Hunt 
something up to give them." 

With a pathos touching to hear, grandmother related to my mother his 
last words, "Something to give them," adding, "My husband's life was one 
of service and charity, his last words the expression of his kind benevolent 
nature." From the window he went to the barn on the Valley Farm to 
thresh. The sound of the flail was heard at the house but no one noticed 
it cease. Dinner was ready and Abisha's little son Edward went to call 
him. He came back sajdng, grandfather was asleep and would not wake 
up. The girl went and came back running, having found him on the floor 
alive but unconscious. He was carried to the house and died in a few 
minutes. The neighbors on looking saw he had threshed one flooring. 
Some sheaves lay on the floor for the second. The pitchfork in the mow 
with a sheaf sticking on the prongs showed beyond doubt he had fallen 
from the mow to the floor, caused from one of the frequent giddy attacks. 
The following Christmas would have been his 71st birthday. Friends and 
relatives held him in such high esteem his funeral procession was a mile 
long, following on in close line to the Friends' burying ground at the Val- 
ley Meeting-house, where aU that was mortal of Edward Woodman found 
final resting place. 

HIS PERSONALITY 

There was much in the religious Society of Friends he admired. Their 
outward form suited his tastes, the inner quiet communion suited his spiri- 
tual needs. He always wore plain clothes in cut and color, went regularly 
to meeting on First Days, was particular to pay meeting rates, and to 
discharge a full share of the necessary work in keeping the groimds around , 
the meeting-house in good order. When asked why he did not become a 
member, he answered: "That testimony against war keeps me out. I went 
into the Revolution with a sense of duty and still think it was right." 

Aunt Ruth said that in middle life he was erect, nearly six feet tail, 
with broad shoulders, full chest, fine muscular development through- 
out, very blue eyes, a sallow complexion, hair light brown and curly, worn 
brushed back from his forehead and temples and hanging from the crown 
of his head to his coat coUar a mass of curls. 

The nieces and nephews have told us of many kind deeds ; how he always 
looked on the bright side of life and had always a smile of welcome and 
good humored joke when they came to see Aunt Sallie. His daughters said 
beneath his easy, courteous manner and gayety was a tender conscience, 
guiding strong religious convictions, which often, when alone with his fam- 
ily, he used to express with beautiful language. They said it was past their 
understanding how their father could come through the vicissitudes and 
temptations of his youth and early manhood and keep his morals and in- 
tegrity, but he did. A soldier who had known him in the army said of 
him: "His conduct at all times was characterized by courage, manifesting 
no fear in time of danger. Through cold, hunger and fatigue his cheeful- 
ness never failed, and often raised the drooping spirits of his comrades." 



The History of Valley Forge 19 



THE LIFE OF HENRY WOODMAN 

BY 
HIS DAUGHTER, MARY S. WOODMAN 

EARLY LIFE 

Henry Woodman, the third son and fifth child of Edward and 
Sarah (Stephens) Woodman, though born at the Valley Home- 
stead on the 20th of December, 1795, cannot be said to have grown 
up in his parents' household. The greater part of his childhood 
and youth was spent with his grandmother and aunts at their 
home about half a mile farther up the creek (Valley Creek on 
which is Valley Forge), in the house built by Grandfather 
Stephens after the Revolutionary War. 

Being industrious, willing, quick-minded, and always prompt, 
when things were given him to do, all the errands of both homes 
fell to his luck. Of things Father told me of his child hfe he 
could not have been a boy as others were, the sports and amuse- 
ments of other children had no charm for him and he would not 
engage in many of them. The consequence was that others, hav- 
ing more of the bad boy in them, had often made a butt of him 
for their cruel fun. Possessing, as he did, a mind of keen sensi- 
bility, he suffered much from the jokes of his companions. Every 
opportunity for the improvement of his mind was eagerly sought 
after ; and, by the time he was fourteen had made so much prog- 
ress in all that was taught in the neighboring school, his relatives 
thought it right to send him to a boarding school. Money was 
hard to get — could they meet the costs ? "Well," said his father 
to Aunt Becky Stephens, "by all means we must educate Henry, 
for he does not know enough ever to make anything but a 
scholar." The various kinds of work that called for farm or 
mechanical skill Henry could not learn, and that is why his father 
thought him fit only for a scholar. 

SCHOOL-TEACHER, ACCOUNTANT AND SCRIBE 

So it came to pass, when the summer harvest was gathered, he 
was sent to Benjamin Moore's boarding school for one year, 
which was divided into four quarters with 72 days each. When 
he came home at the end of the school year, the schoolmaster 
having run away and left an unfinished quarter, the boy, not yet 
sixteen, was asked to finish it, which he did, and also the succeed- 
ing one. 



20 The History of Valley Forge 

Next he went to the Gulph School, from there to Judge Jones's 
school-house in Lower Merion township, teaching a year in each 
place. The time lived in the latter was a pleasant and busy part 
of his life for he studied the higher branches of mathematics, 
under the instruction of Enoch Lewis, the celebrated mathema- 
tician. He also improved himself in English grammar. At all 
times Father embraced himself of an opportunity to gain a better 
education. He became a scholar without cost to his friends, pay- 
ing back the money advanced for the year's schooling before the 
two years had elapsed. The wages of a country school-master, 
however, were so small that he gave up the business of teaching. 

In his twentieth year he went to Philadelphia. He was em- 
ployed lirst in a wholesale grocery, remaining ten weeks only, for 
they sold whiskey and he would not do that. Next he went into 
an iron store, leaving there to go into the employ of Rogers Bros., 
whose business was wholesale hardware and tine cutlery. They 
also had a large wood wharf, besides which the firm operated the 
iron works at \'alley Forge. 

His energies were all called into service in tliat firm. ''He held 
a ready pen, and could post books and count figures faster than 
either of the brothers. At the wharf he would, if it was required, 
cord wood with a black man at the other end of the log, then go 
back to the desk and do efficient work, or perhaps be sent to do 
their bank business." A daughter of one of the brothers told 
me, "Your father was the most capable man the firm ever em- 
ployed because he was a good clerk and not too proud to do all 
kinds of necessary work or drudgery." The death of Grand- 
father \\'oodman brought many changes, Rebecca and Henry had 
to return from the City, to him a real misfortune. The Rogers 
Brothers offered him an increase in salary, already a good one; 
but it was thought by the family he ought to go to the assistance 
of his mother, and, being a conscientious man, he thought so too. 
I think it was a mistaken idea of duty^ — Aunt Rebecca could have 
gotten along as well without as with him. But he brought money 
into the family by surveying, deed-writing, teaching, and other 
business of similar nature, not by farming. [This work, how- 
ever, helped prepare him for the great work of writing "The 
History of the A'alley Forge." — Ed.] 

A QUAKER PREACHER 

Through all the children of Edward and Sarah Woodman ran 
a deep current of religious thought and feeling. With Henry it 
was the mainspring of life, a simple religious faith, held with firm 
convictions, free from sectarian bias, was the influence that con- 
trolled his thought and action. He early renounced "the vanities 
and attractions of the world" and gave his mind to the cultivation 
of a religious life. During the time he resided in Philadelphia he 



The History of Valley Forge 21 

united with the reHgious Society of Friends, and soon after began 
to speak a httle in meetings for worship. About the year 1825 his 
gift in the ministry was acknowledged by the "people called 
Quakers," and he became a recommended minister of the Society. 
After he moved to Bucks County he experienced some trouble 
from such members at Wrightstown as could not understand his 
liberal views in religion. "Through all I have lived in that joy of 
soul in God and His providence, which cannot be taken away or 
destroyed," were his own relation of the trying events. A gen- 
erous nature, a magnanimous soul, a heart with as little envy and 
jealousy in it as can be imagined, were my Father's natural attri- 
butes. In the social circle he delighted to please and interest all, 
in his household at all times very kind and indulgent, patient and 
loving, toward all alike. 

MARRIAGE 

Henry Woodman and Mary Smith, daughter of Benjamin and 
Mary Smith, he an elder of Wrightstown Meeting, were married 
on September 12, 1827, according to the order and under the care 
of Wrightstown monthly meeting of Friends, in the meeting-house 
at Wrightstown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May ist, 1828, he 
went to reside with his wife and her aged parents. 

Up to about 1840 he often visited meetings with a minute. In 
1837 Mother accompanied him to Baltimore Yearly-meeting. She 
was not strong enough often to take such journeys. Father when 
preaching had a free and easy flow of language, a good clear voice, 
at no loss for words. Had he been educated for the pulpit, he 
would have been eloquent. The proudest, the richest, the poorest, 
and with the same truth add the wickedest folks in the neighbor- 
hood sent for Henry Woodman, when any one in the family was 
buried. To all he went with the same message of gospel truth 
and love. 

Father had a fondness and good faculty for telling anecdotes. 
One time when in Norristown over First-day, it so happened sev- 
eral other cousins were in the town visiting. All were invited to 
take dinner at the hospitable home of Lindley and Margaret Ros- 
sitter. They lingered around the table talking of early recollec- 
tions. Father told something humorous, which all enjoyed except 
Aunt Ruth, who straightened up, looked at him, and ejaculated: 
"Laws ! Henry, how can thee go to meeting, preach, come back 
and be so shallow!" Her brother Henry was serious enough 
when occasion called for seriousness. 

SCHOOL DIRECTOR 

He was elected a member of the First Board of Directors for 
the public schools in Buckingham township, became the Secretary 



22 The History of ^'' alley Forge 

of the Board, which he continued to be, with the exception of one 
year, for a period of twenty-one years. The office was just suited 
to his unselfish nature, not one cent of money for the serv'ices in 
those days and very little thanks. He could work the same with- 
out either. He visited the schools often, where his genial temper 
rendered him a favorite with the children. He would have some 
exercise not usual in the school, adding a little humor with his 
remarks and advice. The good seed he sowed has blossomed for 
me through the many men and women I have met who have told 
me of the pleasure it gave them when he came alone into the 
school-room. ]\Iy pleasure is in knowing that he is thus gratefully 
remembered by the children he so often benefitted. 

"OLIVE BRANCHES" 

As the years passed on in the life of Henry and Mary Wood, 
man the little \\"oodmans came at intervals until seven olive 
branches had grown up around the parent tree. They were as 
follows : 

Benjamin Smith \\'oodman, born 8th month, 22nd. 182S. 

Edward Woodman, born Sth month, 19th, 1S30; died aged 21 
years, a young man of great promise. 

Mary Smith Woodman, born 3rd month, 29th, 1833. [The 
only daughter and authoress of this delightful sketch of her 
father, still living on the homestead near Wycombe, Bucks 
County. ] 

Henry Woodman. Jr., born 8th month, i6th, 1835; died in 
Morrisville, Pa., on 3rd month. 7th, 1905. 

William W^oodman, born 7th month, 24th, 1838. 

Comly Woodman, born 12th month, 30th, 1840. 

Wilson Moore Woodman, born loth month, 3rd, 1845. [His 
daughter, Alice \\'oodman Smith, being the connecting link be- 
tween the Woodmans and the publisher of this book.] 

THE CLOSE OF DAY 

Henry and Mary ^^'oodman continued to live on the Smith 
homestead in the same house fifty-two consecutive years, dating 
from their marriage in 1827. On Christmas eve 1879 Henry 
died, aged 84 years. He outlived his father fifty-seven years and 
was the last survivor of the \'alley household. \\'hen Father was 
about 75 years old his mind gave evidence of failure, which grad- 
ually increased. Had it not been for an accident that occurred in 
1873, he could have retained his faculties in good degree until 
death. An afternoon in August, when bringing the cows from 
pasture, the male attacked him. He recovered from his wounds, 
but his head was so severely injured that his mind was lost to 
nearly everything he had perviously known. Still much of the 



The History of Valley Forge 23 

reverent and spiritual part of his nature remained. A friend said 
of him : "As he lived so he died, serving the Lord, and in his old 
age was not forsaken." 

On the fourth day following his death after a silence at home 
we with a few particular friends proceeded to Wrightstown 
Meeting-house and found it filled with people. Elizabeth Hicks 
Plummer gave expression to her feeling in a beautiful sermon. 
When all had taken a last look of him who had lived fifty-two 
years in their midst, he was laid in the spot he many years before 
had chosen. 



The Homestead 

near 

Wycombe, Bucks Co., Pa. 

May twentieth, nineteen hundred and seven. 

Aged seventy- four. 



24 The History of Valley Forge 




HISTORY OF VALLEY FORGE 
BY HENRY WOODMAN 

LETTER I 

AUTHOR'S INTRODUCT ON 

HERE are some places in the State of Pennsylvania 
which ought to claim a conspicuous place in its his- 
tory, as they have been rendered memorable on 
account of their connection with that eventful time 
when these colonies were contending for their free- 
dom from foreign oppression, and which resulted in the overthrow 
of British authorit}', and the final establishment of our present 
free independent government. \Miile it is admitted that there are 
many of sufficient notoriet}' to claim a place in the historian's page, 
there are few, if any. that have rendered themselves more worthy 
of this favor than the \'alley Forge. Not that any splendid vic- 
tories were there achieved for no engagements with the enemy 
took place there; the confused noise of the battle of the warrior 
was not heard there ; neither were carnage and garments rolled in 
the blood of the slain beheld in its borders. But it was there that 
^^'ashington with his destitute and suffering army, towards the 
close of the year 1777, and in one of the most gloomy seasons of 
the Revolution, took up his winter quarters and suitered for a 
period of near seven months, the most severe privations and hard- 
ships. There, but partially sheltered by miserable huts from the 
inclemency of a severe and protracted winter, and almost destitute 
of clothing and provisions, sustained by principles of the purest 
patriotism, they patiently endured their sufferings with true 
magnanimity, constancy and patient resignation, supported b}' the 
hope of ultimately obtaining the independence of their country, 
and enjoying the inalienable rights of men. 

To preserve an account of these incidents connected with that 
interesting period, as well as some other matters relating to that 
place and the surrounding country, is the object of the present 
and succeeding communications. I was born and raised in the 
vicinit}^ of the place, and within the lines of the encampment 
where many of its traces were, and still (1850) are visible; and 
many of the inhabitants of the neighborhood had been witnesses 
of that interesting and deeply trying time, from whom I received 
an account of the principal events that shall hereafter be noticed — • 



Thp History of Valley Forge 25 

particularly those that relate to the period of the Revolution. 
Among those from whom this information has been derived were 
my parents; and it was from their lips I have heard the greater 
part of it. My father was a soldier during the Revolution, and 
was one of the number encamped there ; he belonged to the North 
Carolina line, which constituted Washington's life guard, and was, 
as he informed me, in twelve general engagements. My mother, 
at the time of the encampment at Valley Forge, was in the nine- 
teenth year of her age, and resided with her father, whose farm 
was situated within the limits of the encampment, and was the 
resort of numerous American officers, thus affording its inmates, 
from actual knowledge and observation, an intimate acquaintance 
of the passing events that were transpiring around them. 

Often, in the days of my childhood, have I listened with deep 
interest to the simple unvarnished relations of that period, as they 
have fallen from the lips of my parents, when assembled around 
the fireside, of long winter evenings, sometimes in company with 
some of the neighbors, who had witnessed the same things; but 
oftener in company with strangers, and younger people, who felt 
desirous to hear the recital of these things, and the facts they had 
witnessed, related by them. Their social disposition and happy 
faculty of communicating these narratives rendered their company 
particularly interesting and agreeable. I shall never forget the 
time, when in early youth, I used to accompany my father and 
traverse the ground of the encampment, where the foundations of 
the huts, the fortifications and breastworks were still visible ; and 
have heard him, while pointing out some particular objects and 
explaining their uses or purposes, relate the sufferings of that 
Spartan Band, and not only there, but during their severe struggle 
to accomplish our freedom. Impressions were then made upon 
my mind that, while reason retains her seat, I trust will never be 
effaced, even at that time feeling desirous that our freedom and 
free institutions might be perpetuated to the latest posterity, and 
that the evils of war might never again be found in our borders. 
And although I have since lived to see the inconsistency of wars 
and fighting with the peaceful religion of Him who emphatically 
declared that his "Kingdom was not of this world," yet I believe 
that a narration of some facts connected with that era in the Revo- 
lution, taken in contrast with our present happy, peaceable and 
prosperous condition, may not only be interesting but have a tend- 
ency to raise in the minds of the present generation a grateful 
sense of the blessings we now enjoy, and to incite them not to 
deeds of war or to raise a thirst for military renown, but to use 
every exertion on our part to preserve pure and unsullied to gen- 
erations yet unborn, the inestimable blessings of peace, liberty, 
freedom, and self-government, which we, through the patrotism. 



26 The History of \\a.lley Forge 

peresverance and patient sufferings of our ancestors, are now in 
possession of. 

What can be better calculated to call the attention of the pres- 
ent generation, who are now engaged in active duties of life, and 
also the rising youth, who, in the revolving round of a few more 
years, must be the future guardians of our country, than to remind 
them of the difficulties, dangers and hardships of various kinds 
that were surmounted by their predecessors in the accomplishment 
of our freedom, and also placing us in possession of the liberty 
and free system of government we now enjoy? 

Actuated by motives of this nature, I have been induced to 
present to the public, through the medium of some of the public 
papers of the County of Bucks, to commence a series of letters, 
giving an account of ^'alley Forge, a place, as already mentioned, 
that has rendered itself conspicuous on account of its connection 
with the Revolutionary ^^'ar ; for here it was that during its dark- 
est days, and after the successive defeats of Brandywine and 
Germantown and the massacre of Paoli and the possession of the 
City of Philadelphia by the enemy, that a part of the army, with 
the commander-in-chief, retired into winter quarters under the 
most gloomy prospects. 

In presenting this series of letters to the people of my adopted 
county of Bucks and the public generally, it is not my intention to 
confine myself exclusively to the period of the Revolution, but I 
shall refer to the early settlement of the place and continue its his- 
torv down to the present time. Neither shall I limit myself to that 
portion of country originally embraced in the \'alley Forge tract, 
but shall e:N:tend the account to portions of country surrounding 
it in ever}- direction, the most of which was the scene of some in- 
teresting events during the Revolution. 



The History of Valley Forge 27 



LETTER II 
VALLEY FORGE IN 1850 




HE Valley Forge is situated on the western side of the 
River Schuylkill, about twenty-two miles from the 
city of Philadelphia, in the counties of Chester and 
Montgomery. The village bearing the name of Val- 
ley Forge contains (1850) about forty houses, with 
a large cotton factory, a grist mill, and numerous other buildings ; 
these lie on a stream of water called the Valley Creek, which 
forms the dividing line between the two counties, that part lying 
on the eastern side being in Montgomery, and that on the western 
in Chester county. The water power for driving the machinery 
is probably not excelled by any other in Pennsylvania, as the 
stream passes between two abrupt hills from the fertile regions of 
the great valley, a distance of more than a mile, to the village, 
near which place these hills, or as they are more familiarly called, 
Mount Joy and Mount Misery, have their northern termination, 
at which place a large dam of more than twenty feet in height, 
has been constructed, which affords, in the driest seasons, a suf- 
ficiency of water to continue the manufacturing business in full 
operation. A public road from the city of Philadelphia to this 
place, called the Gulf road, originally terminated here. Another 
road from Phoenixville, Yellow Springs, Mofgantown, Reading, 
and many other places, commences at the termination of the 
Gulf road, at the county line, and called Nutt's road, taking its 
name from a certain Samuel Nutt, who owned extensively at 
Phoenixville, in Chester county, more than a hundred years ago. 
Another has within a few years been laid out from the place to 
the Lancaster turnpike, following the course of the dam through 
the county of Montgomery, but as I have never travelled it, I 
cannot say where it terminates. About half a mile east of the 
village, the Gulf road is intersected by a road originally leading 
to the old Lancaster road, by way of the Valley Baptist Meeting 
House, and has been called the Baptist road, or Vialley road. One 
thing a little remarkable is, that, though in a public place, with the 
Reading railroad passing through a part of the property, there 
has never been a hotel or tavern in the village. 

As we approach the place on the eastern side by the Gulf road, 
as we ascend the top of the hill, a little north of the intersection 
of the Baptist road, the beautiful river Schuylkill bursts full upon 
the view, and in a line between the observer and the river, is seen 



28 The History of Valle. Forge 

the original mansion where General Washington had his head- 
quarters during the encampment in the winter of 1777 and 78. 
After descending by a somewhat meandering road,, we arrive at 
the \'alley Forge, or rather the village bearing that name, the 
purpose of its original construction has been long since abandoned, 
not having been used for the manufacturing of bar iron from pigs 
for more than sixty years. 

ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT AND THE FORGE 

Concerning its original settlement I am not in the possession 
of any documents calculated to throw much light or to afford 
correct or authentic information on the subject. I shall, there- 
fore, rely on the accounts I have received from aged persons, all 
of whom have now descended to the grave — together with such 
facts as I have been able to collect from the old title deeds that I 
have had occasion to examine when engaged in sur\-eying prop- 
erty' contained in the original tract ; but as more than twentj'-two 
years have elapsed since that period, and the greater part of the 
time I have been a resident of this county (Bucks), and not hav- 
ing it in my power to make further investigations on this head, 
the information on this point will be concise and furnished only 
from recollection. 

The original tract, containing upwards of two thousand acres, 
was taken by Evan ap Bevan, a native of Radnorshire, in the 
Principality- of \\'ales, about the year 1686. Whether he emi- 
grated to the country,' or not, I cannot say with certaint}*; but, 
from having seen his name in certain title deeds, I have come to 
the conclusion that he must have resided for several of the last 
years of his hfe in this, then province of Pennsylvania. One 
thing is certain, that he was the original ancestor of the Stephens 
family, since ver\- nimierous in that part of the countr\% and some 
branches of the family now in possession of a part of other lands 
granted to him about one hundred and sixt>--four years ago. I 
have always understood that this was the first forge for the manu- 
factory- of iron in the Province, and was first commenced by 
Stephen Evans, a son of the aforesaid Evan ap Bevan (he, accord- 
ing to the usage and custom of the Welsh, taking his father's 
first name) and Lewis Walker, a son of Isaac, the original ances- 
tor of the Walker family, since and at this time, composing a 
numerous and respectable portion of the inhabitants of that por- 
tion of country-; some of them now being in possession of the 
original portion of land granted to him by the proprietor in the 
year 1684. Of both these families I shall have occasion to speak 
more fully in some of my future communications. At what time 
they commenced business I cannot say with certainty-, but I have 
understood, from correct authorit\- that, owing to some mistake 
between them, together with their ignorance of the business, it 



The History of Valley Forge 29 

did not result to the advantage of the parties, and in a few years 
after resulted in a dissolution of the firm, and after several years 
of litigation, the property was sold to a certain John Potts of 
Burlington, in the State of New Jersey, and a large speculator in 
iron works in different parts of Pennsylvania. 

This sale to John Potts took place about the year 1719, in 
whose family it remained until 1806. He was the grandfather of 
David and Isaac Potts, who owned the property at the time of 
the encampment at that place. During the time the property was 
owned by different members of the Potts family, nothing remark- 
able occurred at that time; they continued to pursue the even 
tenor of their way, diligently engaged in the manufactory of bar 
iron, and increasing in wealth and numbers, extended the business 
to other parts of the State. They were very patrician in their 
habits. They founded Pottsgrove, now Pottstown, on the Schuyl- 
kill, in the county of Montgomery, about twenty-two miles from 
Norristown, where many members of the family still continue to 
reside, pursuing their former occupations. The iron business was 
carried on by different members of the family at the Valley Forge, 
until the time ol the encampment during the Revolution, when the 
scenes in connection with that event, and the destruction of the 
property attendant thereon, and the unsettled state of the country 
during that period, for awhile put an end to their operations. 

In my next letter I shall advert to the causes that produced 
these effects. There are no doubt many who know of the en- 
campment, the burning of the Valley Forge by the British, and 
other circumstances in relation to that, to whom details of these 
things may be interesting. I shall therefore endeavor to lay them 
before my readers in a clear and distinct manner, and as much as 
possible in the order of time in which they occurred, as I have 
often heard them related by those who had an opportunity of an 
experimental knowledge of these things. 



30 The History of Valley Forge 




LETTER III 

A DEPOSITORY OF MILITARY STORES 

N MY last it was mentioned, that during a part of 
the Revolution, owing to the destruction of property 
and other causes, the manufactory of iron at this 
place was for a time suspended. This destruction of 
property was owing to the burning of the Valley 
Forge, or rather the buildings of all kinds connected with the 
establishment, by a detachment of British soldiers, under the com- 
mand of Col. Gray; the destroying of timber necessary for manu- 
facturing purposes and the subsequent unsettled state of the 
country during the war. Every person who is acquainted with 
the history of our country, and particularly of the Revolution, 
knov/s that this was indeed a gloomy period of its existence, as 
some yet living can testify. Struggling against an army of 
superior numbers, well disciplined and well furnished with every 
necessary to carry on the war with vigor, in punishing and bring- 
ing into subjection a people v/hom they considered their rebellious 
subjects — every means was resorted to, to compel obedience to 
their authority; and to reduce, and if possible, crush our veteran 
troops, who were destitute of almost all the necessaries of life, 
poorly fed, more poorly clothed, and still more poorly sheltered 
from the inclemency of the weather. I have often heard my 
father, who was one of the number, describe the situation of 
himself and companions in arms, who after a fatiguing and forced 
march during an inclement day, many of them in this condition, 
suffering from cold and hunger, and leaving the ground over 
which they marched, marked with the blood that flowed from 
their almost naked feet. In this situation when night had over- 
taken them, they have lain down on the bare ground, with no 
other canopy but the shades of night, with their knapsacks for 
pillows ; and wrapping themselves in their blankets, they have lain 
down, and awoke covered with snow. 

This was the particular situation of our army during the years 
of 1776 and 1777; and it was near the close of the last year, as 
mentioned in my first letter, that part of the army, with the 
commander-in-chief, retired into winter quarters at Valley Forge. 
Every movement of the Continental Army was watched with the 
keenest scrutiny, and such was the unsettled state of the colonists 
at that period, that in many places the parties in favor of one or 
the other of the contending parties were so nearly balanced, that 



The History of Valley Forge 31 

they might be compared to nicely adjusted scales — the addition of 
a very small matter would cause one or the other to have the pre- 
ponderance. Previous to the American army encamping at the 
place, and while the possession of the city of Philadelphia, during 
the ensuing winter, by either party was uncertain, the Valley 
Forge was selected as a suitable place for the depository of the 
military stores, arms and ammunition, and the provisions belong- 
ing to the continental army. The selection was made on account 
of its secluded situation and distance from the supposed route of 
the British army under Gen. Howe, in its march from the Chesa- 
peake Bay, to form a junction with Gen,. Burgoyne, who with the 
army under his command, were on their route from Canada by 
way of the Lakes, to get possession of the city of Philadelphia in 
their march ; and, as it was also believed by many, that they had 
this place in view for winter quarters, in case the enemy suc- 
ceeded in getting possession of the city of Philadelphia, believing 
the inhabitants in that section of country, were less loyal than in 
some other places, and that they generally favored the. American 
cause. 

However correct this last position may have been in general, 
and however patriotic the most of them might have been ; yet from 
this there were some exceptions. It must be acknowledged that 
there were some, though not in the immediate vicinity of the 
place, or residing in that portion of the country which I mean 
particularly to describe — ready to convey the information to the 
enemy; and one, if not more, who acted as a pilot to conduct a 
detachment of the British army to the place, who succeeded in 
destroying the most of the buildings belonging to the manufactur- 
ing establishment, and such part of the stores, arms, ammunitions, 
and provisions, as had not been hastily removed to the opposite 
side of the river Schuylkill. 

At the time of the conflagration, the manufacturing of iron at 
the place was carried on by a person, who will occupy a conspic- 
uous place in this account, named William Dewees, in connection 
with some members of the Potts family. Whether he at this 
time owned any part of the real estate or not, I cannot say. He 
was then married to his second wife, his former one having been 
a Potts; but whether or not a sister of Isaac and David Potts, 
mentioned in my last letter, I have never fully informed myself. 
It was in part owing to this marriage connection that William 
Dewees, in his life time, founded a claim on government, for 
damages for losses sustained by the burning of Valley Forge, by 
the British; and about nine years after his death, was success- 
fully prosecuted by his widow and some of his heirs; which I 
merely hint at here, as I shall probably enter more into its details 
in some future communications. His second wife was the daugh- 
ter of a wealthy and respectable inhabitant, named Thomas 



32 The History of Valley Forge 

Waters, residing in the Great Valley, about two miles east of the 
place^.— of whom some notice will be taken hereafter. 

William Dewees was at the time a colonel of the Continental 
militia, and served a campaign in the field during the war of the 
Revolution. Owing to the commission and rank he held in the 
army, he was rendered particularly obnoxious to the enemy ; and 
they, of course, resorted to every means in their power to harass 
and, if possible, to take him prisoner. On this account the place 
of depository for the military stores at Valley Forge was strongly 
opposed by Col. Dewees (as he will henceforth be called) and his 
wife, they being almost certain that the buildings would be de- 
stroyed, on account of his connection with the army, and of 
course, it could not be a safe depository for them. The sequel 
proved the soundness of their views. In my next I shall resume 
the subject. 



The History of Valley Forge 33 




LETTER IV . 

THE BURNING OF VALLEY FORGE 

DO NOT know the precise date of the burning of 
the Valley Forge, but it occurred during the interval 
of time between the battles of Brandywine and Ger- 
mantown, and but a short time previous to the massa- 
cre at the Paoli. My mother, though not an eye 
witness to the scene or conflagration, was placed in a situation on 
that day which made her a prominent character on the occasion. 
She had been on a perilous embassy, which having accomplished, 
on her return home, had to pass the place on that day, and but a 
short time previous to the perpetration of the deed. Having in 
passing the place, beheld the hurry, bustle and confusion attend- 
ant upon the removal of the stores belonging to the army to the 
other side of the river, she often used to relate it; and from this 
information I shall now proceed to insert it here. I consider the 
circumstances of this journey of sufficient interest to claim a place 
in this narrative, as they will show the present generation, now 
lolling in ease and enjoyment, the difficulties that had then to be, 
through necessity, encountered often by tender and delicate 
females, and through how much they sometimes persevered, in 
order to overcome them. 

HUNTING JEHU— TWO WOMEN OF THE REVOLUTION 

It has been observed that the Valley Forge was burned be- 
tween the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Soon after 
the battle of Brandywine, the sick and wounded were for a short 
time conveyed to Philadelphia, and the American army under 
Washington, was marched to Skippack, in the county of Mont- 
gomery. General Howe, with that part of the British army under 
his command, encamped for a few days at the house of Samuel 
Richards, in the great valley, about three miles southeast of the 
Valley Forge. Kniphausen, who had the command of the Hes- 
sians, had his quarters at the house of a respectable German 
named Jacob Fricke, on the adjoining farm. The Hessians dur- 
ing their stay at the place were troublesome neighbors. They 
committed many depredations and thefts — entering with impunity 
into houses, taking everything valuable they could lay their hands 
on, often jeopardizing the lives, and spreading dismay among the 
peaceable inhabitants, and rendering traveling dangerous and 
almost impracticable. 



34 The History of Valley Forge 

It was during this time that my mother, then not nineteen 
years of age, left home in company with her aunt, to go to the city 
of Philadelphia, in order to inquire among the sick and wounded 
soldiery in the hospitals and infirmaries where they had been 
removed after the battle of Brandywine, and also among the sol- 
diers quartered in the barracks, in order to ascertain whether a 
soldier, a cousin of hers, and son of her aunt in company Avith 
her, had been wounded in the engagement and removed there, as 
they had received no accounts from him for some time previous, 
and knowing that he had been attached to that part of the army 
that had been in the engagement, concluding that if not to be 
found in any of these places, he must either have been slain or 
taken prisoner, or be with the main body of the army, or in some 
place suffering want and sickness. 

At that time there were none of the comfortable accommoda- 
tions we now possess; no steamboats passing swiftly and majes- 
tically upon the navigable rivers ; no locomotives with their splen- 
did traveling cars on finely graded railroads, moving with incredi- 
ble velocity from place to place, of which they could avail them- 
selves. They had not at that time the comfortable sheltered 
wagons or carriages of the present day to protect them from the 
descending showers. Deprived of all these advantages that we of 
the present day can enjoy, solitary and alone at this precarious 
time, these two females undertook their journey on horseback, 
having in their journey to cross the river Schuylkill, swelled by 
heavy rains, and over which there were at that time no bridges, 
and the ferries destroyed, to check the progress of the British 
army in their march to obtain possession of the city of Philadel- 
phia. 

Their first effort was to cross the river. On arriving at the 
old Swede's Ford, they found it too high to ride, and no conveni- 
ences in crossing over. They next proceeded down the stream 
about a mile to the house of a man named John Rambo, who, on 
account of his dexterity in managing a canoe, was called Canoe 
John Rambo. He engaged to convey them over, provided they 
would sit in the canoe, in which were placed their saddles and 
baggage, and hold their horses by the bridles, that they might swim^ 
across the stream. To these proposals they wilHngly acceded, 
and were conveyed by him kindly and without charge to the oppo- 
site side of the river, where they arrived safe. He assisted them 
to resume their journey, and in the afternoon of the day that they 
left home they arrived safely in the city. They called upon a 
person with whom they were acquainted, named John Williams, 
a son-in-law of the aforesaid Thomas Waters, with whom they 
spent that and the succeeding night. He being a man of some 
influence, he procured an order to enable them to proceed in their 
search, and volunteered to accompany and assist them in their 



The History of Valley Forge 35 

-undertaking. A day and a half were spent in fruitless search 
through the hospitals, the infirmaries, and barracks. In the 
course of this search, she, with her companions, were witnesses 
to many appalling scenes of suffering and distress, as well as many 
loathsome sights of the dead and dying, promiscuously together ; 
some suffering from severe wounds and uttering dismal shrieks 
and groans, surgeons performing operations of various kinds and 
others suffering from recent amputations of dangerous kinds, 
enough, as I have often heard her mention, to make the stoutest 
heart shudder, and the most cruel abhor the practice of war; a 
full description of which if it were necessary, could not be given 
here. 

Not being able to obtain the slightest information of the object 
of their search, they concluded he must be dead, and then aban- 
doned all further pursuit, and prepared to return home. Making 
a few hasty purchases of some articles they stood in need of, they 
commenced their homeward journey on the afternoon of the third 
day after their departure. Having proceeded a few miles on the 
road, and drawing near the Falls of Schuylkill, they saw at some 
distance before them, a soldier wearing the American uniform. 
My mother proposed to her aunt to inquire of him concerning her 
son, but she refused, saying, "I will inquire no longer — he is dead ; 
and it is no use to give myself any further trouble." When they 
met, mother cast her eyes upon him, and he spoke respectfully. 
She then asked him whether he knew a soldier named Jehu 
Stephens. "Yes," said he, "and he is now in that house yonder," 
pointing to one some distance before them on the road ; "he, with 
many others of us, has been there for some time, sick with the 
camp fever ; he is now better, and able to walk about. We were 
brought here before the battle of Brandywine for the benefit of 
pure air to facilitate our recovery. If you wish to see him, I will 
return with you to the house." Their eyes filled with tears of joy 
on the discovery, and the soldier returned with them to the place. 
As soon as their voices were heard, they were recognized by him 
whom they were seeking, and as soon as the weak state of his 
health permitted, he came down stairs and stood before them, pale 
and emaciated, an object suffering under the effects of a tedious 
illness, often in want of the attention necessary to the affflicted, 
for while treated as kindly as circumstances would permit, yet 
such was their peculiar situation, that things necessary for their 
comfortable provision could not be procured. They conveyed 
"him to a tavern near, provided him with a comfortable meal, left 
some things with him that he stood in need of, and then proceeded 
on their journey. As they met with some interesting adventures 
on their journey, and after their arrival at home, they will form 
part of my next letter. 



36 The History of Valley Forge 




LETTER V 

T THE conclusion of my last letter, our travelers- 
were about resuming their homeward journey. 
When ready to leave the Falls of Schuylkill, the day 
was far spent, and they had proceeded but a little, 
way when night overtook them, and it commenced 
raining. Proceeding up the Ridge Road, not being able to cross 
the river, they concluded to continue to Archibald Thomson's,, 
about a mile above where Norristown now stands. At that time 
there was no town there; the only house on the present site of the 
town, was that of John Bull, who owned the greater part of the 
land on which Norristown is now built. This house was near 
Stony Creek bridge, in the upper end of the town ; the next house 
below, was immediately opposite the old Swedes Ford, more than. 
a mile distant. The town now ( 1850) contains more than seven 
thousand inhabitants — such has been the rapid increase and march 
of improvement since that period. They kept on their journey 
through the rain. When they arrived at Thomson's, they found 
the house empty, with the exception of a black man, who was left 
to take care of the premises. Thomson being an officer in the 
army, fled with his family for fear of the British, who, in a few 
days after, burned the buildings on his pl^ce, and also the barn of 
John Bull on Stony Creek ; although his name partook of royalty,, 
he was in principle opposed to it, being a staunch Republican. 

Not thinking it safe to continue there, and not finding quarters 
as expected, they proceeded on to Henry Pawling's, at Pawling's 
Ford, on the Schuylkill, about six miles farther up, where they 
arrived about midnight. Riding up to the house, my mother 
called out to some of the inmates to arise; her voice was heard 
and recognized by Nathan Pawling (afterwards sheriff of Mont- 
gomery county), who, alarmed at her arriving there at that time 
of the' night, hastily cried out, "What is the matter, Sarah, that 
you come here at this time of night?" She told him to arise, let 
them in, and take care of their horses, and she would let him 
know. This request was soon willingly complied with ; and, other 
members of the family arising, they were soon comfortably sup- 
plied with such things as they stood in need of, in their tired situa- 
tion. 

Here they learned the disturbed state of things at Valley 
Forge, which was situate on the opposite side of the river, and 
from which place they were then removing the stores on tempor- 



The History of Valley Forge 37 

ary rafts, constructed for the purpose, as expeditiously as possi- 
ble, across the river, expecting an immediate attack from the 
enemy ; this caused much fear and consternation among the peo- 
ple, and may account for the surprise occasioned by the arrival of 
two females at midnight, from the opposite side of the river, and 
from the scene of confusion and fear. 

The following morning the rain had ceased and the weather 
was clear and serene ; but all was hurry and confusion, occasioned 
by removing property from Valley Forge. Upon one of the rafts 
constructed for the occasion, they were ferried over and safely 
landed on their own side of the water, not more than two miles 
from home. Soon after they crossed over, they saw Col. Dewees 
hurrying to cross over the river, momentarily expecting the 
enemy ; and Col. Lee, who was stationed here to guard the stores, 
in company with Col. Hamilton, busily engaged in moving them 
away. 

Passing on their journey towards home, near the foot of the 
hill mentioned in my second letter, at the junction of the Gulf and 
Baptist roads, [where the old school-house stands — Ed.] hearing 
a noise in the woods on their right, my mother looking in that 
direction, saw coming toward them a body of British cavalry, 
moving in the most perfect order, their horses being so trained 
that they made but little noise in their march. In their front, in 
•company with an officer, rode a guide or pilot, whom she knew, 
but who shall in this description be nameless ; one who, if report 
be true, was often engaged in similar expeditions during the war. 
They passed on without noticing or molesting them, except that 
an officer left his station, rode up to them, and inquired of them 
whether they had been at Valley Forge and seen Col. Dewees? 
and whether they were removing the military stores ? Receiving 
from her an affirmative answer, he took his leave and resumed his 
station in the company, who proceeded on to the river, but not by 
the direct road, and found Col. Dewees on a raft, crossing over to 
the other side of the river. They fired upon him, killed the 
Colonel's horse, but did no further injury to any of the company. 
Cols. Lee and Hamilton each made a hasty retreat from the 
place, in different directions; and the men engaged on the occa- 
sion precipitately fled from the enemy when they saw them 
approaching. Some carbines were fired after them, but none took 
any effect. The place being thus left to the mercy of the enemy, 
they set fire to the buildings in which the stores were deposited, 
the forge and all the buildings appertaining to it, all of which with 
their contents were destroyed. 

While these things were in progress at Valley Forge, our 
travelers arrived safely at home, fondly hoping that their perils 
were at an end. But this hope was short lived, for in a few min- 
utes after their arrival, three Hessians armed with daggers, were 



38 The History of Valley Forge 

seen approaching the house, which they soon entered, and began 
to plunder of whatever valuable things they could lay hold of. 
In my next, I shall give a detail of this unceremonious visit. In 
the residue of this I shall confine myself to such matters as relate 
(as my mother called it) to her journey "to hunt Jehu." 

One of the Hessians saw their saddles, which, upon being 
taken off the horses, were placed in the sun to dry. He inquired in 
broken English, whose they were ; she replied, "Mine." He then 
drew his dagger and exclaimed in a rage, as nearly as could be 
understood: "You rebel, you have been to see .Washington !" but 
offered no further signs of violence. Some little time after they 
withdrew, she heard the sound of military music, and looking in 
the direction from whence it came, saw a large number of British 
soldiers approaching the house. When they came opposite, they 
made a halt, and an officer came to her and inquired whether 
Thomas Waters lived there; she said, "No." His next inquiry 
was where he lived; she pointed to the place, it being the next 
farm. He then asked if she would sell him a loaf of bread; she 
told him she would, and then brought him one. "Look at me," 
said he, "that you may know me again. After we go to Thomas 
Waters's, we v/ill come back, and I will pay you. We expect to 
encamp there for the night, and return this way." He then 
joined the company, who proceeded on their march; but he never 
came back to pay for the loaf of bread ; and she, with the rest of 
the family, were glad to escape with no greater loss. 

Thus ended the four eventful days of my mother's journey to 
hunt Jehu. To some these things may seem a fiction; but it is 
nevertheless an unvarnished truth; and there are now living in 
the borough of Doylestown several persons of respectability who 
have heard her relate the circumstances mentioned in this narra- 
tive, particularly the account of her journey. 

It may not be improper to state in this place, in relation to the 
burning of the Valley Forge, Colonel Caleb North, since Sheriff 
of the city and county of Philadelphia, informed me thirty-nine 
years after the event, that he saw the conflagration from the top 
of Mt. Joy, near the place. He, in company with Colonel Alex- 
ander Hamilton, had been sent to the place — Hamilton to join Lee 
in the removal of the stores, and he, to watch incognito the move- 
ments of the British army in the neighborhood. 

In my next I shall give an account more fully of the Hessians' 
visit to my grandfather's, and the sequel of the march of the 
British to Thomas Waters's, who was marked as one of their 
objects of persecution, on account of his being father-in-law to 
Colonel Dewees, whose family were at this time at the place. 



The History of Valley Forge 39 




LETTER VI 

UNCEREMONIOUS VISIT OF THE HESSIANS 

AVING promised my readers to give a more full 
detail of the unceremonious visit of the Hessians to 
my grandfather's family, I now enter upon that duty. 
When they saw them coming to the house, there were 
several men sitting on seats at the front door, enough 
at least, to have prevented their doing much damage ; but thinking 
self-preservation the first law of nature, they all fled in different 
directions, except my grandfather and his only son, the late 
Stephen Stephens, deceased between four and five years since, a 
man since well known to many persons in this county, a lad then 
about thirteen years of age. They sat still to abide the conse- 
quences that might befall them. Among those who fled for safety 
was a chaplain to the American army, belonging to Mifflin's divis- 
ion, named William Rogers, a Baptist clergyman, and afterwards, 
for many years, professor of rhetoric and belles-letters in the 
University of Pennsylvania. Knowing that his dress would be- 
tray him as belonging to the army, he ran into the house, handed 
my mother his coat and a valuable gold watch to take care of until 
he should come back, then ran and hid himself under an open 
ended hogshead in the cellar (as he many years after informed 
me). She took the watch and hastened with it up stairs, locked 
it in a drawer,, and took the coat to a bunch of bushes near the 
house, and hid it among them. 

When the Hessians arrived, one of them seized my grand- 
father by the collar, drew his dagger, and robbed him of a watch 
that was in his pocket, and then proceeded into the house. His 
mother, an old woman, and who from a paralytic stroke was 
completely prostrated, both in mind and body, and totally incap- 
able of helping herself, sat tied in an arm chair (one that I think 
is still in possession of our family). 

However disposed to treat other members of the family, if not 
with rudeness, it was far from civility and politeness ; they each, 
as they passed her, took her affectionately by the hand, and in 
their broken language called her mother, and appeared to rever- 
ence old age. They next proceeded upstairs, and commenced 
breaking open the drawers and cupboards, rifling them of their 
contents, and taking whatever they considered of sufficient value 
to carry off. The first thing of value that attracted their atten- 
tion was the chaplain's gold watch, which they secured and car- 



40 The History of Valley Forge 

ried off in triumph. His coat remained unobserved in the bushes, 
and so might his watch if it had been placed in one of the 
pockets and hid with it, or have been left by him, as he was not 
discovered. 

Among other things found in ransacking the drawers were a 
number of cartridges, that had been found by the lad above men- 
tioned, a few days before, and placed in the drawer, without 
suspecting any evil consequences would arise from this simple 
circumstance. Finding these so enraged the plunderers, who sus- 
pected from this trifling affair that they were connected with the 
arni)^, that they became so turbulent that fears for their safety 
were strongly apprehended, the family believing they would pro- 
ceed to violent measures. Some explanation being made, and 
finding nothing further to confirm their suspicions they soon be- 
came quiet and offered no further violence to any. 

Having seen the respect they paid to the aged woman before 
mentioned, some of the family availed themselves of the oppor- 
tunity, while the Hessians were upstairs, of placing in her pockets 
some silver spoons and other small articles of value, and owing to 
this circumstance they escaped their notice. It was well that she 
did not understand their language or comprehend their meaning, 
otherwise she would, owing to her dotage, by her words and 
actions, expressive of her anxiety, have betrayed the secret of 
their being secreted about her person. After taking whatever 
they thought proper, and among other things the articles (consist- 
ing principally of groceries), which my mother had purchased 
during her late expedition, they departed from the house. 

Crossing over a small stream of water they found sitting, un- 
der a large walnut tree an old man, a brother of my grandfather, 
generally known by the name of Uncle Benjamin, engaged in 
shaving splints to make baskets, and who had not been apprised 
of what was passing in the house. Coming up to him they de- 
manded of him whether he was a rebel man, an epithet very 
familiar with them. They received from him a very cool recep- 
tion and abrupt answer, for being armed with a sharp axe, and 
furnished with several pieces of white oak wood for making 
splints, about eight feet long, and split into pieces of sufficient 
lightness to handle with ease, he did not fear them. Instead of 
answering them, he told them to clear out, or (to use his own 
expression) he would brain some of them, at the same time mak- 
ing use of actions suitable to the words. They soon left him, 
either thinking him an object not worthy of their notice, or fear- 
ing a stroke from his axe. It was probably well that they desisted, 
as he was of a very vindictive spirit and given to broils and fight- 
ing, and he might, in all probability, have carried his threats into 
execution. 

They next proceeded to Thomas Waters's, and having plun- 



The History of Valley Forge 41 

dered the house of many valuable things, took a notion to feast 
upon some fowls. While in pursuit of them, some ran under an 
old smoke-house, where one of the pursuers followed them. 
Whether he succeeded in capturing any fowls or not, tradition 
does not inform us, but they succeeded in finding something of 
more value, — a large sum of money, in coin, had been secreted 
there to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. Having 
succeeded so well, they proceeded to their camp, stopping at the 
next farm above, and carrying from a tree some green persim- 
mons, a fruit at the time not very palatable to them. 

There is a circumstance connected with this account, I will 
next mention here. The large walnut tree alluded to is still stand- 
ing (1850), a few venerable elms, that escaped the ravages of 
that period, are the only relics of the Revolution that I know of 
that now remain on my grandfather's property. 

PHIN'S FORT 

Neither can I close this account without introducing to the 
notice of my readers, one, who at the time of the visit of the Hes- 
sians, rendered himself of some notoriety. I allude to a black 
man, a slave of my grandfather, named Phineas, generally called 
"Phin," for be it known that at the time slavery existed in Penn- 
sylvania, and Friends, of whom my grandfather was one, as well 
as others, held them in unconditional servitude. Phin, seeing the 
Hessians coming, ran into the house, took down a long gun, which 
is still in possession of some of the family, and hastily seizing 
some of the ammunition, ran some distance to a sinking hole or 
cave, where he hid himself for several days, coming home at 
night for food; and, as he said, determined to defend himself 
from the enemy. The place of his retreat was afterwards called 
by my father, "Phin's Fort," a name it still retains and may possi- 
bly for some years to come. 

The detachment of British soldiers, mentioned in my last, pro- 
ceeded to the farm of Thomas Waters, took off a large quantity 
of hay, grain, and many other articles, drove off some cattle and 
horses, and then returned the same night to their camp. This 
was the last time that any of the British or Hessians were on my 
grandfather's property in a hostile manner. 

In my next I shall, in addition to some things growing out of 
the events mentioned in this letter, make some general remarks, 
on the state of the times, and some other matters, which I trust 
will be of interest to my readers. 



42 The History of Valley Forge 




LETTER VII 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS— DEWEES REGALIA 

T ]\IUST appear evident from the foregoing accounts, 
that these were truly troublesome times. As noticed 
in one of my former letters, parties were nearly bal- 
anced. And there were others who wished to as- 
sume a neutral position. The latter though not so 
much persecuted by the contending parties, were subjected to 
requisitions from both armies, and found their situation at best a 
very critical one, as much caution was necessary to preserve a 
strict neutrality, the movements of all were strictly watched. 
Those who adhered to the crown were persecuted by the colo- 
nists and the colonial army; and those who were known to be 
opposed to British authority, and openly acknowledged them- 
selves in favor of freedom, and especially those who held com- 
missions in the army, or were active in the serv'ice of the Conti- 
nental Congress, were marked as the objects of revenge by the 
enemy; while those who held a neutral position, and were not 
active in the cause of freedom, however they might be secretly 
disposed to favor it, if when requisitions for the use of either 
army were made upon them, or their houses were entered by the 
British soldiery, if nothing was found in their possession that 
would have a tendency to convict them of any of the rebellious 
movements of that day, they were seldom much molested. But if 
anything, however small, was found in their houses, or in their 
possession, it was often the cause of violence on the part of the 
enemy. This may account for the rage of the Hessians, upon 
finding the cartridges, as before noticed, in possession of my 
grandfather; and had they upon that occasion discovered any- 
thing else indicative of a hostile nature, or intended for hostile 
purposes, their resentment might possibly have known no bounds ; 
and serious, if not fatal consequences might have followed. 

The family was at this time in imminent danger, though 
entirely ignorant of it. The circumstances were these : The fam- 
ily of Colonel Dewees had left ^^alley Forge, and with the most 
of their furniture, had removed to his father-in-law's (Thomas 
Waters'), where his wife and family, for the time being profess- 
ing to be strict loyalists, were staying. Among the articles of 
furniture removed from \^alley Forge were two chests which the 
wife of the Colonel wished to have kept at my grandfather's, she 
assuring them they contained nothing but some articles of cloth- 



The History of Valley Forge 43 

ing and some other things, which she wished to have secured in 
case of the enemy coming upon them. My grandmother, all 
kindness, consented to the request, and they were brought there. 
When the Hessians visited the house, although the chests were in 
the house and in one of the rooms they plundered, yet they were 
not broken open. Feeling uneasy on account of not knowing 
what was in them, on the following day, my mother went to Sarah 
Dewees, wife of the Colonel, and requested, or rather demanded 
the keys, that she might with certainty know what was contained 
in them ; she told her to make herself perfectly easy, as there was 
nothing in them that if discovered would hurt or injure them. 
Being peremptory in her demand, the keys were reluctantly deliv- 
ered to her, and she proceeded to open the chests, and to her sur- 
prise, found they contained the Colonel's military uniform and 
insignias of office, his sword and other weapons worn by officers 
of his rank, which if they had been discovered, would have pro- 
duced much destruction of property, if not loss of life. She 
immediately gathered the whole contents into her arms, carried 
them to a quarry in a coppice of woods near the house (the place 
can now be pointed out), in which she threw the whole of them, 
and covering them with stones, — thus spoiled the Colonel's hat 
and other military accoutrements. By this disinterested act of 
kindness, we may observe how narrowly they escaped the dangers 
to which they were unsuspectingly subjected, and the imminent 
danger they were placed in. 

It may be proper to remark in justice to the commander of 
the British army, whose policy it was to secure as much as possi- 
ble the confidence of the people, that these petty robberies and 
depredations were not sanctioned by him, or committed under his 
direction. They were done by a few Hessians who strolled from 
the camp, and committed these acts on their own responsibility. 
My grandfather's family was not a solitary instance of suffering 
from their rapacity. In their predatory movements, at the time 
alluded to, they paid no respect to persons, but visited all families, 
and treated all in the same unwelcome manner, taking everything 
of value they could lay hands upon and were able to carry off, so 
there were few, if any families, but suffered in a greater or less 
degree, from their approximity to them. In some cases they were 
followed to the camp, and upon being pointed out to the superior 
officers, they were punished and as far as possible restoration 
made of the property. But few people in the neighborhood 
availed themselves of that method ; for though the most of them, 
on account of their religious principles, had assumed a neutral 
position, yet there were few, if any, but who were heartily dis- 
posed to favor the cause of freedom, and opposed to the royalist 
cause ; and when the British army took from the people who were 
known to be neither directly or indirectly concerned with the 



44 The History of Valley Forge 

opposing party, any articles that were not necessary to the sup- 
port of their troops, restitution was always promptly made. Not 
as was generally supposed, so much from a sense of honesty, as a 
desire to secure from such conduct, the attachment and loyalty of 
the people. 

The American army having abandoned the city of Philadel- 
phia, and removed their sick and wounded, the British under 
command of Gen. Howe, took possession of it. The battle of 
Germantown took place soon after, the result of which is too well 
known to be repeated here — suffice it to say, that in that engage- 
ment Gen. Nash was slain. It was to his division my father 
belonged ; he was intimately acquainted with the General in Hills- 
borough, North Carolina, where they both resided previous to the 
war, and alwa3'S spoke of him in terms of the highest respect. He 
was near him when he fell, and was among the few others who 
conveyed his lifeless body to the cemetery of Towamencin 
Church, in Montgomer}-, where it is interred, and where I have 
understood a monument has been erected to his memory. It was 
near this place, on the heights of the Perkiomen and Skippack, 
called the Mathachen Hills, that Washington with his army re- 
tired after the engagements, to recruit his forlorn and distressed 
soldiers, many of whom were almost ready to give up the cause 
of freedom as hopeless. 

In my next I shall resume the subject and endeavor to bring 
it up to the time of the arrival of the army at Valley Forge. 



The History of Valley Forge 45 




LETTER VIII 

FERTILITY OF THE FEMALE MIND 

T THE close of my last, we left Washington with 
his troops encamped on the Mathachen Hills, to 
which place he had retreated to recruit, as far as 
possibly remained in his power, the strength and 
spirits of his destitute and suffering army. After 
tarrying here a few days and receiving some reinforcements, he 
marched back again towards Philadelphia, to watch the move- 
ments of the enemy, and encamped on the heights of Barren Hill, 
in the township of Whitemarsh, and the Gulf Hills, in Upper 
Merion township, Montgomery county — a portion being on both 
sides of the river Schuylkill. The British fleet was at this time 
trying to force a passage up the Delaware to the city of Philadel- 
phia, which after six weeks of fierce and determined opposition, 
they finally effected. While here several small skirmishes took 
place, but no decisive battles were fought. And it was also while 
encamped here that too important matters took place, which I 
shall now advert to. 

The first was the welcome news of the capture of General 
Burgoyne and his army by General Gates, in the state of New 
York. This news had the tendency to raise the drooping 
spirits of the desponding army, though gloomy the prospect and 
trying the condition in which they were placed to hold on 
and persevere in the cause of freedom and independence, under 
their severe sufferings and hardships. Previous to this news 
reaching them, many of them who were persons of wealth and 
respectability who had exchanged their comfortable homes, their 
liappy firesides, and their plentiful tables, for the toils, hardships 
and deprivations of a camp and the life of a soldier; and seeing 
for a time at least nothing but defeats and disasters attend them, 
were almost ready to throw down their arms and reluctantly give 
up the cause of freedom as hopeless, now felt a ray of hope. Ani- 
mated by it, and like a drowning man grasping at a straw to pro- 
long his existence, so they seized on the news of that victory as a 
fresh stimulus, to excite them to contend for their freedom, 
looking forward through the dark and gloomy prospect of that 
day to a brighter and better day, and afresh resolved to still hold 
on in sustaining the ground they had taken. 

The other event alluded to was the discovery of a plan of the 
British army to surprise and capture the army under Washington, 



46 The History of Valley Forge 

while stationed at these places. The plan was frustrated by the- . 
vigilance, sagacity, and I may add, patriotism of a woman in the 
city of Philadelphia, named Lydia Darrach, a member of the 
Society of Friends, at whose house the British officers had a room 
in which they met to hold private consultations. On one occasion 
of this kind she overheard a plan of arrangement laid down, and 
the time agreed upon, to make an attack on the whole army and 
take them by surprise. This by a well concerted stratagem on 
her part, which shows how fertile the female mind often is in 
cases of emergency and difficulties to be overcome, to devise the 
means necessary to carry them into effect. The information was 
communicated to Washington and their object defeated. 

These two causes accelerated the removal of the Continental 
troops to Valley Forge. The first inspired them with hope, the 
second showed them the necessity of being further removed from, 
the enemy, and being fortified in case of an attack. 

Having noticed the ingenuity of the female mind, and how fer- 
tile they sometimes are in carrying out any objects they have in 
view, even under very disadvantageous circumstances, I may be 
excused if I deviate a little from my subject and locaHty to relate 
a circumstance of the kind, which was planned and executed by a 
female who some years afterward removed to live within the 
limits of the lines of the encampment at Valley Forge, and on 
that account I give it a place here, though the object she had in 
view was in direct opposition to the interests of the colony. The 
facts I have heard her relate, and it is from that authority that I 
insert them, though names will be omitted, as there are some of 
their descendants living in an adjoining county, who, if willing 
that the accout should be published, would be unwilHng to see the 
names of the persons accompany it. The circumstances occurred 
soon after the British took possession of Philadelphia, and are as 
nearly as follows : 

There lived at that time in York county in this state, a man of 
wealth and influence, who took an active and decided part with 
the enemy. Owing to his known adherence and open avowal of 
his attachment to the royal cause, he was arrested by the Colonial 
authority, and confined in the prison at York, to await a trial for 
aiding and abetting the enemy. On account of his wealth and 
standing he was, though confined to the house, allowed to have 
full liberty of the yard, and to have rooms furnished so that he 
could receive and entertain company who visited him. On a cer- 
tain evening he had made an entertainment, to which he had in- 
vited the Sheriff and the principal inhabitants of the town, and, it 
was said, some members of Congress, who were in session at the 
place. A splendid supper was provided for them, and plenty of 
wine and other liquors to drink. While the company was en- 
gaged eating and drinking, his wife, the woman last alluded to,. 



The History of Valley Forge 47 

was on the outside of the wall, preparing to effect his escape, by 
a plan very systematically arranged between them and success- 
fully carried into effect. 

She had prepared a rope to be thrown over the wall to him; 
she by holding the other end was to enable him to scale the wall. 
If he succeeded, two fleet horses were in readiness for them to 
mount and ride oft' with all expedition they possibly could. The 
company being engaged as above mentioned, he suddenly com- 
plained of indisposition, asked the company to excuse him for a 
short time, and leaving his hat on the table to avoid suspicion, he 
walked into the yard. Reaching the place, he found the rope 
provided too short. She immediately mounted her horse, which 
enabled him to reach the end of it, so that he thereby made his 
escape over the wall, where a hat and change of raiment were in 
readiness for him. They then set off at full speed to a point on 
the Susquehanna river, not on the main road, where arrangements 
had been made to cross over the river, leave the horses, and pur- 
sue their journey on others that were to be in readiness on the 
other side. He was soon missed, finding he had escaped, pursuit 
was soon commenced, but owing to her well arranged plans, they 
soon crossed over the river and continued their journey so expe- 
ditiously that on the morning of the following day they arrived 
at a house about three miles from Valley Forge, where, thirty-six 
years after, she ended a useful and exemplary life in a good old 
age. 

They continued there during the day, and in the evening left 
the place to pursue their journey to join the British in Philadel- 
phia, leaving the place so as to reach the city by daylight. As 
they drew near the city they found themselves closely pursued, 
when, to prevent being taken, they separated. He then rode into 
the river, swam his horse across and escaped to the British, where 
she having found means to cross the river, soon joined him. 

Whether the sheriff of York county was secretly in favor of 
the measure or not, is uncertain, and must always remain so. 
And whether the owner of the house, where they stopped during 
the day, was previously acquainted with the movement and dis- 
posed to favor it, have been a matter of conjecture among the 
people of the neighborhood, and different sentiments have been 
entertained concerning the subject, some exculpating him from 
any participation in the matter, while others have considered him 
censurable and disposed to favor the enemy. I had prepared 
some comments on the subject, but have concluded not to insert 
them in this work ; merely stating that after the war his devotion 
to our free institutions and tenacity, notwithstanding his religious 
opinions, in exercising his right of suffrage during a long period 
of years, warrants me in uniting with the former opinion, and 
shall now dismiss the subject. 



48 The History of \'alley Forge 

Having now completed the principal matters relative to the 
burning of \'alley Forge and other subjects that transpired about 
that time, I shall in my next give some account of the arrival of 
the troops in the vicinity of the place, from recollection of the 
relations that have been given me by those who were witnessess 
of the painful scene, principally from members of our ow^n fam- 
ily whose lot it was to reside within the lines of the army during 
the whole period of its encampment at that place, sutiering more 
than can be described, but which I leave to the imagination of the 
rea<ier to conceive and contrast it with our present happy situation 
of ease and enjoyment. 

And before I conclude, I would just observe that in m}' next 
the account will be generally confined to the arrival of the soldiers 
at my grandfather's, and their situation at the time. And whai"- 
ever may be related respecting them, may be taken as applicable 
to other families in the neighborhood, as they all suffered alike 
during that disastrous time. To enter into particulars would ex- 
ceed the object in view. I have therefore his family taken as a 
specimen, from being better acquainted with matters that occurred 
here at the time. 





ffi 


&£ 


c 


r/1 




m 






3 








cr 


J_^ 








cr 


^ 


*<! 


3 


r 










"-t 


^ 





P 


>->i 


m 




3 


^ 








^ 


3 


•V4 


^ J 


00 


^ 




o 




<j\ 


X 


w 


n 


c 


•n 


& 


v 






O 


(t 


o 


D. 


n 




C 


»D 


"O 


O 


« 


^4 


Cu 




(T 


< 


V5 


m 


n> 


V! 


n 


•Tl 


o 
"1 


U 








ort} 


3 


(t 


(t 




ri 


Tl 




B: 








rr 


> 






^ 


R 




^ 





The History of Valley Forge 49 



LETTER IX 
ARRIVAL OF THE ARMY 

T WAS in the latter part of the year 1777 (Dec. 19), 
and about six weeks after the battle of Germantown, 
that the American army, under command of Wash- 
ington, encamped for the winter at Valley Forge. 
The people of the neighborhood had but little notice 
given them of the intention of the army encamping there, prev- 
ious to their arrival at the place. Necessity obliged the officers to 
use much secrecy and to be cautious in all their movements, par- 
ticularly at this critical time, when the people were under a gen- 
eral depression, and the soldiers nearly destitute of food and 
clothing and other necessaries, and more than two thousand of 
them had been marched bare-footed from one place to another, 
often through frost and snow, leaving the ground over which they 
marched marked with blood, to evade an attack from the enemy. 
At the same time, disheartened and dispirited from successive de- 
feats, and almost worn down with fatigue, in their frequent 
marches to keep out of the way of their powerful enemy, who, 
through their emissaries, were mostly apprized of their move- 
ments, and were on the alert to secure the most favorable oppor- 
tunity to crush them at a blow, and reduce the colonies to subjec- 
tion. 

Under circumstances of this nature, it was essentially neces- 
sary that all their movements should be conducted with caution 
and secrecy. This may account for little or no notice being given 
to the inhabitants of the neighborhood, until the officers who pre- 
ceded the main body of the army to provide quarters for the gen- 
eral officers, on the morning of the day of their movement to the 
place, arrived at different houses in the vicinity and designated 
their particular quarters. This gave the inhabitants at whose 
houses the different officers were to be quartered, but very little 
time to prepare for their reception. 

On that morning, as I have often heard my mother and others 
of the family relate the circumstances, an officer arrived at their 
house, and, without further ceremony, wrote upon the door 
"General Wheedon's Quarters," and then informed them 
that the General with his guard would arrive there during the 
day. Upon receiving this notice, they began to prepare to receive 
their visitors. 

Knowing the destitute and suffering state of the army and the 



so The History of A'alley Forge 

hardships the soldiers had to pass through, my grandmother, who 
possessed a disposition of the most universal benevolence to the 
whole family ; and, however opposed she was to the system of war 
and bloodshed and the evils attendant upon tliem. yet, she could 
view the soldiers in no other light than fellow beings, suffering 
all the united calamities of hunger, cold, fatigue and sickness, 
and her philanthropic mind influenced by a desire to mitigate as 
far as possible their sufferings, began immediately to make prep- 
arations to provide something for them to eat upon their arrival. 
They had that season secured a large crop of buckwheat and had 
in the house at the time a great abundance of meal that had been 
manufactured from it, and but a few days previous killed a beef. 
They were, therefore, in some ways, prepared to receive them. 
They immediately prepared a large tub-full of buckwheat batter, 
and when sufficiently leavened, they commenced baking cakes, to 
be in readiness when the soldiers arrived, and, at the same time, 
put all their iron pots, of all sons and sizes into requisition to boil 
scraps, shins and other pieces of beef, to make a large quantit}' of 
soup or broth for them. 

Before proceeding further with this narrative, it may not be 
improper to take some notice in this place of Gren. Joseph \\'hee- 
don, whose quarters were at my grandfather's. Holding, as he 
did, the rank of a major general, it is somewhat remarkable that 
little or no notice has ever been taken of him in any of the ac- 
counts of tlie Revolution or in American biography. I have no 
recollection of ever seeing his name in print, and had it not been 
for the fact of his being quartered there, his name, as regards 
myself and many of my readers, might have long since sunk in 
oblivion. Some may, therefore, feel a desire to know who he 
was. All I can say concerning him is from recollection of what I 
have heard from my parents and others who had an opportunit}' 
of knowing him at that time. His residence was in Xansemond 
countv, in Virginia, where, before tlie war, he kept what was 
called' in that country an ordinan,-, that is, in our phrase, a tavern 
of an inferior kind. It was said of him, while in that capacity, 
that the drinking utensils of his bar were made of gourds ; whether 
this story is correct or not I am not able to say ; but it is certain 
that he was dubbed Joe Gourd by the officers and soldiers tmder 
him during his abode at my grandfather's, a name that he was 
called by for many years afterward, and not entirely abandoned 
at the present time, as I have heard it given him but a few weeks 
since, by an aged woman of the family, who well remembers his 
being at the house at the time alluded to above. 

He was of a vers- haught\- and arrogant disposition, and 
treated the soldiers under him with the utmost cruelt>* and tjT- 
annv, viewing them more in the capacity- of his negro slaves, over 
whom he was privileged to exercise the most despotic authority. 



The History of Valley Forge 5! 

than the brave advcxrates of freedom, struggling in the cause of 
obtaining their liberty, and patiently striving to surmount the most 
formidable objects that opposed their progress in the attainment 
of it. By the accounts I have heard of him 

"The milk of human kindness never warmed his breast." 
He may, therefore, be held up to view as one raised to greatness 
without merit, and show the abuse such make of their power 
when dressed with a little brief authority, or deputed to exercise 
the command of others. While his authority over those under 
his command was not only duly but rigidly enforced to keep them 
in abject subjection and pay servile homage to his person, he 
never exercised it to prevent them from taking from the family 
and others, anything they could lay their hands upon; and, if he 
did not encourage such acts, he never, as I have understood, en- 
deavored in the least degree to discourage them, or interposed to 
prevent it. I shall notice him further in some subsequent com- 
munication. 

But to proceed to my narrative. The cakes being baked and 
the soup got in readiness and well thickened with buckwheat 
cakes and vegetables, the soldiers soon after began to arrive in a 
truly deplorable condition ; and as regards their clothing, appear- 
ance and distress, it need not be repeated. Almost famished with 
hunger, they soon began like ravenous animals to devour the food 
provided for them. Before they had finished their meal, the 
General and suite arrived, and his first introduction was a haughty 
display of his imperious temper, in driving the poor, fatigued, and 
famished men out of the house, striking some of them with his 
sword, using the most blasphemous language, calling them im- 
pious names for entering the house, and daring to eat before his 
arrival, and uttering oaths not to be repeated ; and such was their 
terror and fear of him, that they fled from his presence as from 
a dangerous pestilence, or the fury of a lion. 

This cruel treatment was more than my worthy grandmother 
could tolerate; for though of the most pacific disposition, and 
endued with a heart of tenderness and compassion towards the 
meanest insect, yet where suffering humanity was concerned, and 
it was in her power to administer to its relief, she had not only a 
firmness of spirit, but a firmness of resolution to carry her motives 
into effect. Unintimidated by the General's supercilious behavior 
and regardless of his threats, she resolutely commanded some of 
the soldiers to return and carry out a large iron pot, which is still 
in possession of our family, and several smaller ones that were 
well filled with soup, and furnishing them with an additional sup- 
ply of cakes, that had been previously prepared for the occasion, 
they did so, and soon devoured their contents, they not being 
quite so fastidious as some of our modern epicures. Often have I 
heard my aged grandmother describe the events of that day; and 



52 The History of Valley Forge 

always on these occasions her eyes would fill with tears, in recol- 
lecting the distressed situation of the soldiers upon their arrival, 
and describing as she was accustomed to do, the contemptible be- 
havior of the General toward them, not only on that day, but 
almost every day during the time he had his quarters at their 
house, though he was there but a short time. 

From what information I have been able to gather, the sol- 
diers upon arriving at their respective quarters, were in the same 
famished condition, and they were also provided for in a similar 
manner ; but I never heard of any being treated in the same cruel 
manner that Wheedon treated his men, as related in the fore- 
going account. 

I shall now close the communication by just informing my 
readers, that in my next I shall give some account of the location 
of the encampment, and the situation of the surrounding country, 
the erection of fortifications, huts and breast works, and other 
things relating to the commencement of the encampment. 

In describing places on the river Schuylkill, the eastern and 
western sides of the river are made use of, without regarding the 
source at the particular places ; its course is so devious as often to 
present a very contrary appearance. The city of Philadelphia is 
on its eastern side, and all places mentioned on that side of the 
river are given on the eastern side, and those on the opposite side, 
Dn the western. 



The History of Valley Forge 53 






LETTER X 

LOCATING THE ENCAMPMENT 

HE location of the encampment of the main body of 
the army was on an eminence lying on the western 
side of the river Schuylkill, commencing on the farm 
then belonging to Mordecai Moore, the father of 
Jesse Moore, who was for many years Presiding 
Judge of the Sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvaina, and extend- 
ing from thence in a south-westwardly direction, having the front 
line of the encampment on the first elevation of the north valley 
hill, and since called the Front Line Hill, more than two miles, 
and terminating on the farm of John Brown near the Valley 
Creek, in Chester County, the greater part of the ground occupied 
for the purpose, being in the then county of Philadelphia, now 
Montgomery. In order to protect themselves from an attack 
from the enemy, they erected at the northern extremities of the 
encampment, two forts, one on the land of Mordecai Moore, the 
other about forty rods distant, on the land of John Moore. The 
remains of them are still sufficiently visible to point out their size 
and situation, and to show the observer the uses for which they 
were intended. I shall speak more fully of them in some of my 
future letters, just mentioning in this place, that in my early days, 
and as long as I can remember, these were called Mordecai Moore 
Fort and John Moore's Fort ; and as they still retain these names, 
they will in future references to them, be thus designated. From 
the first mentioned fort they threw up a breast work, running 
from thence on the Front Line Hill, nearly its whole length, and 
terminating at a fort on the farm of John Brown. This was done 
by digging a ditch of a sufficient depth for the men in front, in 
case of an attack, to entrench themselves from the fire of the 
enemy. The earth that was excavated was thrown in such a posi- 
tion as to afford a similar entrenchment for those in the rear. 
My first recollection of this breastwork was when about five years 
of age. At that time, I suppose, the ditch was about three feet 
deep, though after a lapse of twenty-three years, it had been con- 
siderably filled up; and the embankment formed by the excava- 
tion, about the same height. A considerable portion of it is still 
(1850) remaining in a tolerable good state of preservation. Other 
similar ones, of shorter lengths, were erected in other places, to be 
used in cases of emergency. 

On the rear iine of encampment, a range of forts was erected, 



54 The History of Valley Forge 

in a line nearly parallel with the Front Line, commencing on the 
land of David Stephens, and were called David Stephens' Forts 
and John Brown's Forts, on account of their being erected on the 
land of these individuals. I do not know of any forts or re- 
doubts being erected on the Valley Forge estate, neither have I 
ever seen the remains of any upon any part of it, from which I 
conclude that there were none on that property. In many places, 
and particularly between the forts, picket guards were placed to 
obstruct the advance of cavalry in case of an attack. These were 
formed of rails with one end sharply pointed, the other placed 
firmly in the ground, the pointed end elevated at an angle of about 
fifteen degrees, and placed so closely together that a horseman 
could not pass between them. Many of the rails used for this pur- 
pose were left on the premises, and I have in my time seen many 
of them. 

The distance from Valley Forge to the Front Line Hill, in a 
direct line, is about a mile and a half, which was the greatest 
width of the encampment. It was much narrower at its north- 
east and south-west terminations, the river Schuylkill and Valley 
Creek governing its breadth at these places. 

As I shall have occasion to speak of the Rear Line Hill, as 
well as the Front Line Hill, I may here mention, that a hill form- 
ing the western boundary of the river Schuylkill and running 
nearly parallel with the Front Line, and leaving the course of the 
river near Headquarters, and continuing in the same direction up 
the Valley Creek to the county line, above where the old forge 
stood that was burned by the British, constituted the Rear Line 
Hill, and is the hill mentioned in my second letter. 

It was on the ground occupying the space between these two 
lines, that the temporary huts, for the soldiers and some of the 
officers to winter in, were erected ; the greater number of them on 
the farms of Mordecai Moore and David Stephens. The timber 
was cut down, and the huts or cabins put up in a short time after 
their arrival, for while a part of the soldiers were engaged in 
constructing fortifications and breastworks, others were cutting 
down timber and rearing their rude and miserable huts to shelter 
them from the severe winter that was approaching, and which was 
rendered still more so by their destitute and forlorn situation, as 
described; yet such was the energy with which they engaged in 
the undertaking, and the alacrity with which they, under every 
disadvantage, carried it on,, that I have understood that in the 
course of four days after their arrival the most of the work was 
completed. 

I never saw any of the huts ; they were all demolished before 
my time (1795) ; but the foundations of most of them were still 
visible. When I first remember visiting the ground, and from 
having so often seen them, I can form a just estimate of their 



The History of Valley Forge 55 

size, and from the description given of them by my father. I 
trust that the information I shall give concerning them, will be 
generally correct. The greater number of the huts, judging from 
the foundations as they presented themselves, in my early days, 
varied in size from ten to sixteen feet square, occasionally the 
foundation of a much larger one presented itself among them. I 
always understood that a mess of seven men among the soldiers 
occupied one hut, and many of the inferior officers had single 
huts for their accommodation. The sites of many of the officers' 
huts and the names of their occupants were pointed out to me by 
my father, when I was about eight years of age. Directly on the 
rear of the breastwork on the Front Line Hill, and about twenty 
yards distant from it, a line of huts was constructed, commencing 
on the land of Mordecai Moore, and extending towards its south- 
western termination. Traces of many of them are still visible, 
and they appear to have been erected in a nearly uniform line 
with spaces or passages between them like streets or roads. This 
regularity in their construction is most apparent on the front and 
rear lines. Towards the center less order appears to have been 
observed, as the remains or foundations of the huts clearly indi- 
cate. The principal part of the huts on the rear line and in the 
center were erected on the land of David Stephens, though a 
number of them were on the Valley Forge estate, and some few 
in the centre and on both lines were on the land of other persons. 
A small number were erected on both sides of the lines of en- 
campment, but all traces of them have long since been obliterated, 
and their foundations ploughed up. I have a faint recollection of 
having seen the sites of some of them. These huts were con- 
structed in a very rough and ready manner, and without the aid 
of the master builders and architects of the present day, for they 
were hastily built of logs, rudely jointed together in the manner 
of cribs, and the spaces between them filled up with stone, mud 
and clay, and whatever other materials the exegency of the case 
afforded, and covered with earth excavated from the cellars. They 
had no windows, and an opening was left in one end for a door. 
It was in this manner the temporary accommodations for the 
soldiers and some of the officers were hastily formed to shelter 
them, though very poorly, from the inclemency of the approach- 
ing winter. They had no attic or basement stories, they were 
barely high enough to admit a man to stand upright. Some of 
them had chimneys and places for fires, though the most of them 
had not this convenience, and their fires were generally built upon 
the ground on the outside of their cabins, and here they performed 
their cooking operations in a very simple and primitive way. 

I have occasionally, in my rambles over the ground in my 
youthful days, in search of cows, which were turned upon it to 
pasture (for then the greater part of it either lay a common or 



56 The History of \^\lley Forge 

was an unenclosed forest) found among the foundations of the 
huts, the remains of logs that had been used in their construction, 
and about thirty-nine years ago I found in one of them the re- 
mains of a chimney, in a tolerable state of preservation, and which 
I also saw some years afterwards, and a short time previous to 
mv removing to this county, but not having traversed the grounds 
for the last twenty years. I cannot say whether or not it is still 
remaining. Upon mentioning these circumstances to my father, 
he infonned me that these were the quarters of some of the gen- 
eral officers, who on account of the thinly settled state of the 
country could not obtain them at the dwellings of the inhabitants 
in the vicinity of the encampment. 

The foregoing description may serve to give my readers a 
faint, but at best a very faint and imperfect idea, of the manner 
and kind of dwellings with which the soldiers were provided 
during that memorable campaign, and we may figure to our imagi- 
nations, from the destitute condition, and the want of the very 
necessaries of life under which they were laboring when they 
entered them, how much they suffered during their abode at the 
place. I shall now conclude this epistle, by observ-ing that in my 
next I shall give some account of the general officers, and the 
place of their different quarters, and some other matters that I 
have heard related of that period, and probably some accounts of 
the outposts of the army that w^ere placed as an advanced guard. 



The History of Valley Forge 57 



1 






j 



LETTER XI 

QUARTERS OF THE GENERAL OFFICERS 

AVING in my last given a description of the huts 
that were hastily erected for a temporary shelter for 
the soldiers during the winter, I may now observe 
that, when finished, they collected leaves, dead grass, 
straw, hay, and other materials into their huts to lie 
upon ; and each one having a blanket and knapsack, and seven of 
them occupying one hut, used their knapsacks for pillows, and 
their blankets for bed clothes to cover themselves ; but they found 
food and clothing not so easily obtained ; and for want of the 
latter they often suffered. In a former letter I mentioned that 
the quarters of the general officers had been designated by some 
of the subordinate ones, who preceded the main body of the army 
on the morning of their arrival ; they were at the following places : 
The headquarters of General Washington was at the house of 
a minister of the Society of Friends, named Isaac Potts, at the 
chief mansion at Valley Forge, at that time the largest house in 
that vicinity and best calculated for headquarters. At the house 
of David Stephens, it being the next below on the Schuylkill, 
General Varnum was quartered. Proceeding on to the next one, 
then occupied by Zachary Davis and belonging to David Stephens, 
General Huntingdon was quartered. At the next one on the 
river, then owned by William Smith, First Provost of the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, and occupied at the time by a man named 
Henry Force, the provost guard was stationed; and the officers 
having charge of it were quartered at the house. The next one on 
the river was then occupied by a man named Michael Shur; he 
used to boast of having had the command of the Second Regi- 
ment quartered at his house, but who the commander was, or to 
what brigade he belonged, fame has not informed us. I am not 
certain that any officers were qaurtered at any of the houses any 
lower down the river. 

I shall now leave the course of it, and proceed to the house 
of John Moore, at the northeast extremity of the encampment. 
General Muhlenberg was quartered at the house of Mordecai 
Moore, which was the next one above in the Great ^ Valley. 
General Morgan, when not engaged with his rangers on the out- 
posts, was quartered, and also the Commissary General of the 
army, at the house of my grandfather, Abijah Stephens, it being 
the next adjoining farm and the place of my nativity. On the 



58 The History of Valley Forge 

southeastern boundary, General Wheedon was quartered for a 
short time. General Mifflin had his headquarters at William 
Godfrey's; General Greene, at Isaac Walker's; Gen. Sullivan, at 
Thomas Waters'; Gen. Poor, at Benjamin Jones'; Gen. Potter, at 
Jacob Walter's ; and Gen. Wayne, at the house of Joseph Walker — 
these constituting all the farms and houses at that time lying in 
the Valley in Chester county, on the southeastern and south sides 
of the encampment, except one at that time belonging to a Ger- 
man, named John Beaver, at whose house I have always under- 
stood that no officers were quartered. 

On the southwestern extremity, I have always understood the 
following officers were quartered: Gen. Knox, at the house of 
John Havard ; and Gen. Maxwell, at the house of John Brown ; 
and on the west side of the Valley Creek, at Valley Forge, Gen. 
Mcintosh was quartered at the house of a respectable colored 
person, named Joseph Mann. 

I have now in my account travelled around the encampment 
ground and come back to headqaurters. I may just observe at 
this place, that at the time just alluded to, there were no dwelling 
houses in the limits of the ground, occupied by the main body of 
the army. Lafayette did not arrive here until some time after 
the army had encamped at the place. He came in company with 
DeKalb, Pulaski, Steuben, Kosciusko, Duloyson, and other distin- 
guished foreigners, who joined our army, of some of whom and 
their quarters some notice will be taken in some of my future 
letters. 

In addition to these, whose quarters have been mentioned, 
there were several officers of rank, but where they had quarters 
I cannot say with certainty, but conclude the most of them lived 
during the time in huts ; and I well remember my father showing 
me the foundations of large huts and telling me they were occu- 
pied by officers during the time of the encampment; and on one 
occasion he pointed out the one that had been occupied by Gen. 
Lee. This was on the Valley Forge estate, on the north side of 
the Rear Line Hill. Among those that have not been noticed 
were Generals Conway, Smallwood, Armstrong, Furman, Mac- 
Dougal, and many others not now recollected, the most of whom 
lived in the camp at the time. 

I have heard it mentioned by persons living at the time that 
some officers were quartered at the houses of Samuel Jones and 
Samuel Richards, in the Great Valley, immediately above Joseph 
Walker's ; but not having availed myself of proper information on 
the subject, I cannot say who they were. I should not suppose 
that any officers were quartered higher up the Valley than the 
latter place, as that was beyond the farthest extent of the picket 
guards in a southerly direction. I am further confirmed in this 
opinion from a circumstance mentioned to me by John Davis, one 



The History of Valley Forge 59 

of the Associate Judges of the county of Chester, and who was 
at the time of the encampment at the Valley Forge, a captain in 
the regular army, and whose residence was on the Valley Creek, 
not more than four miles from the Valley Forge, where he was 
stationed. He informed me a short time previous to his being 
deprived of the use of speech by paralysis, that during the whole 
period the army was there, he was so constantly engaged that he 
was at home but twice during the time. While engaged in the 
service, he kept a journal of many of the occurrences of the 
camp, a part of which was published in 1823 in the Village Record, 
a paper published at West Chester at that time, by Hon. Charles 
Miner, and continued in weekly numbers for several months ; and 
I regret that I cannot now refer to it, not having preserved the 
numbers, as it contained much interesting information on the 
subject. 

DISPOSITION OF THE ARMY 

Having now got the troops in their huts, and the general of- 
ficers mostly in their quarters, it may now be the proper place to 
mention the disposition of the army, and the positions assigned 
them. After the fall of Gen. Nash, who commanded the troops 
constituting Washington's body or life guard, many of whom were 
slain at the battle of Germantown, the survivors of them were 
placed under the command of Gen. Mcintosh, and as body guard 
to the commander-in-chief, were stationed on a hill a little east of 
Headquarters. On the hill of the Rear Line, and on both sides 
of the Gulf road, and extending in a southeasterly direction, were 
stationed the brigades of Generals Conway, Maxwell, Huntingdon 
and Varnum, the latter being stationed on a hill near his quarters, 
where a redoubt was erected in order to command a view of the 
opposite side of the river. The site of the redoubt, which is now 
so nearly destroyed as to leave but few traces of its existence 
remaining, was placed on an elevated point of land, from which 
an extensive view of both sides of the river could be secured, and 
so near the stream as to employ the artillery to check an attempt 
of the enemy to cross over near the place; but their use for the 
purpose was never required. 

The main body of the army under the command of Generals 
Muhlenberg, Wheedon, Mifflin, Poor, Potter and Wayne, were 
stationed along the Front Line Hill; and troops under the com- 
mand of the several officers last named, were so arranged as to be 
nearest their respective quarters. The division of Sullivan was 
stationed on the Schuylkill between Headquarters and the Fatland 
ford, about half a mile lower down the river ; some further notice 
of them will be given in a future number. The troops command- 
ed by Knox and Smallwood, and afterwards by Lafayette, were 
artillerv under command of Col. Proctor, were stationed on 



6o The History of \'allev Forge 

the south side of the Gulf road, between that and the Bap- 
tist road in the county of ^lontgomery, a Httle north of the 
encampment. The artillery under command of Col. Proctor, were 
stationed on the south side of the Gulf road, between that and the 
Baptist road in the county of Montgomery, a little north of the 
Chester county line — the place ever since retaining the name of 
the park. In case of attack from the enemy the direction of the 
artillery was to be given to Gen. Duportale, chief of the engineers. 
The foregoing is nearly as correct an account as I can give from 
memory, as the circumstances have been related to me, by many 
persons who were conversant with these things and the passing 
events of the day ; but my informants are now no more in this 
state of existence. 

The outposts mentioned in my last were placed to watch the 
movements of the enemy, act as an advanced guard, surprise for- 
aging parties of the enemy, and intercept any communications be- 
tween the disaffected people of that day with the British ; and also 
to prevent trading with them, as there were even some, who, 
though not adhering to the cause of royalty, yet for the sake of a 
hard currency, which could always be obtained of the enemy, in 
preference to the depreciating paper money of that day, ventured 
at all hazards to trade with them. A line of these outposts com- 
menced at the river Schuylkill opposite the place where the town 
of Conshohocken now stands ; then known by the name of Mat- 
son's Fc>rd, extending in a southwesterly direction several miles ; 
that portion of country, lying between the main body at \'alley 
Forge and the outposts, being on the prescribed lines of the army. 
The command of these was given to Gen. Lord Sterling, who 
was encamped near the Schuylkill on the Gulf Hills, and from 
this circumstance the place was known as Rebel Hill, a name it 
still retains. The General while here was quartered at the house 
of John Reese ; and among other officers attached to his brigade, 
and with him at his quarters, was James ^lonroe. since President 
of the United States, and one of the most popular men that has 
ever tilled the executive chair. This house is now standing, hav- 
ing imdergone but little if any alteration since that time. It is 
now occupied by a sister of my mother, now in the eighty-second 
year of her age. and the last survivor of that generation, and 
nearly the last one of the Revolution, who was a resident of the 
neighborhood of \'alley Forge, at the time of the encampment. 
who was of an age sufficient to remember the passing events of 
that day. I shall have occasion to speak of her more fully here- 
after. 

As mentioned in the forepart of this letter, the rangers of Gen. 
^lorgan were placed on the outposts, his place of rendezvous being 
on the farm on which Morg-an's on the Columbia Railroad is now- 
located ; and at the house of Mordecai Morgan, at the original 



The History of Valley Forge 6i 

mansion, he had his headquarters when in the neighborhood. I 
have understood that the General was distantly related to this fam- 
ily, but on this point I cannot speak correctly; it was from the 
latter family that the name of Morgan's Corner was called. Here 
he was said to be particularly useful in preventing many from 
trading with the British, by supplying them with provisions and 
otherwise holding communication with them. While thus en- 
gaged, I never heard of any further violent measures being used 
by him upon any thus surprised and captured, than to secure their 
produce and then let them return home. He captured some per- 
sons from York county, who, with teams were engaged in remov- 
ing to Philadelphia the furniture of a person mentioned in a 
former letter, who was taken out of prison by his wife ; they let 
the people go, but secured the goods. Other similar detachments 
were placed at different stations for similar purposes and a skir- 
mish took place at the house of a person named John Scott in 
Easttown township, Chester county, between one of these and a 
foraging party of the enemy, in which one person was killed and 
several wounded. Major William Brooke of Radnor township, 
Delaware county, was the officer who commanded on the occasion. 
One of the persons wounded at the time was a person named 
Griffith Reese, a brother to George Reese, sheriff of the city and 
county of Philadlphia about eighteen years ago. I may also add 
in this place that the Major Brooke just mentioned is the same 
whom some of my readers may remember, who after living to an 
advanced age and enjoyed a respectable standing in the commun- 
ity, in the year 1829 was killed by a blow inflicted by his own son, 
while laboring under a partial aberration of mind. 

I shall now close this subject as relates to the general arrange- 
ment and disposition of the army ; and in my next will relate some 
incidents that occurred during the time ; and endeavor, as far as 
in my power, to give a description of the hardships and trials that 
were suffered by them during that severe season. 



62 The History of A\\lley Forge 




LETTER XII 

INCIDENTS OF THE CAMP 

HE AR^klY was now partially sheltered from the in- 
clemency of the wind and weather, but still the pros- 
pect was far from being a bright one, for "shadows, 
clouds and darkness" rested upon it. For many 
weeks after, they suffered for want of food, blankets, 
and clothes, particularly shoes. Provisions of all kinds were 
nearly exhausted, their blankets nearly worn out, their clothes, not 
only tattered and torn, but from long use worn threadbare and 
scarcely holding together, and the prospect of a further supply, 
from the reduced state of the country, very precarious. But their 
greatest suffering was for want of shoes. I have often heard it 
related by many persons living in the neighborhood that they had 
seen the snow and ground over which the soldiers had to pass in 
performing the duties of the camp, marked with the blood that 
flowed from their feet, and while they beheld these things, and 
looked upon the objects of suffering, shivering with cold, and suf- 
fering from hunger, which it was not in their power fully to re- 
lieve, they have admired the magnanimity and firmness with which 
they bore all their trials. In addition to those just narrated, there 
were many other hardships they had to undergo; that cruel 
scourge, the small-pox, was introduced into the camp, threatening 
to destroy all who had not been innoculated. Owing to neglect or 
inability on the part of Congress, the commissary department be- 
came so exhausted that there was, at one time, not a day's provis- 
ions of any kind on hand, and absolute famine threatened them. 
Some of the troops had been a week, and others three or four 
days, without a mouthful of animal food of any kind. Yet, un- 
der all these discouragements, they patiently endured their suffer- 
ings for several weeks without a murmur. To enumerate all 
their sufferings that I have heard related, would swell these nar- 
rations to an unreasonable length. I shall, therefore, omit many 
things which, if inserted, would be tautologous. 

I shall now refer to a disposition which many among them 
began to manifest, to leave the army and return to their homes. 
This disposition had been created and fostered by some leading 
demagogues, circulating anonymous letters among them, censuring 
Congress, on account of not supplying them with the necessaries 
they required, and secretly encouraging them to revolt and for- 
sake the cause they had espoused. A favorable time to effect 



The History of Valley Forge 63 

their object had been embraced, when the affairs of Congress were 
at their lowest ebb, and the army in the distressed situation just 
described, and the country surrounding the encampment, and 
upon the bounty of which some of them had for some time been 
supported, had become nearly destitute of provisions and other 
necessaries. Their love for their commander-in-chief and other 
officers, and their devotion to their country's freedom, had thus 
far kept them united, and it was now only the influence of Wash- 
ington that prevented an open revolt. He reasoned pathetically 
with them on the impropriety of leaving the army, and lost no 
time in representing their sufferings to Congress. They then 
agreed to continue with him without repining. At this particular 
juncture of time, such was the scarcity of the means of transport- 
ing the supplies for the use of the army, that the soldiers and even 
some of the officers, like beasts of burden, performed with cheer- 
fulness, the duties of providing and carrying wood, provisions 
and other necessaries for the use of their suffering companions, 
for there were at this time near three thousand persons so desti- 
tute of clothing as to be unfit for duty ; fires had to be kept up 
during the night to prevent them from perishing with cold, and 
many others from sickness and wounds, were crowded into hospi- 
tals and private houses, claiming that attention necessary on such 
occasions, but which on account of the destitute condition of the 
government they could not fully receive. 

Upon application being made to Congress, and a true repre- 
sentation of the condition of the troops accompanying it, that body 
appointed a committee to visit them, who, after the performance 
of their duty and making report, which was done as expeditiously 
as possible, such relief and assistance was given as the slender 
means in their power afforded. But the winter, owing to their 
destitute condition, was one of uncommon severity, and many 
ended their days in the service at this place, especially those sta- 
tioned on the north side of the Rear Line Hill, who were gener- 
ally from the southern colonies, and not accustomed to the cli- 
mate, and being in a more exposed situation, many of them died 
in consequence, and their mortal remains were laid there without 
a stone to mark the spot where their "mouldering ashes sleep," but 
not "low in the ground," for they were often buried so near the 
surface as to be disinterred by hungry swine, and in places where 
the soil has been washed off, the decaying bones have been pre- 
sented to view, some of which I have seen within the last thirty 
years (between 1820 and 1850). 

In the midst of these trying scenes, an attempt was made to 
remove Washington from the chief command, and place Gen. 
Gates, then exulting in his triumph in the capture of Burgoyne, in 
his stead. Whether the latter was concerned in the affair I have 
not distinctly understood. Generals Lee and Conway, neither of 



64 The History of Valley Forge 

them native Americans, and some other officers, together with 
some members of Congress, were beheved to be at the head of 
the movement. Measures were used to bring Lafayette to unite 
in the scheme, but these, together with the whole project, proved 
an entire failure, and Washington, to the joy of the army at this 
place, and the majority of the people of the nation, continued in 
command. Soon after this his wife came from Mt. Vernon to 
spend the residue 9f the campaign with him at Headquarters. 

It may be in place here to relate what I have often heard said 
of Washington, by many persons of the place, that during this, 
and all other gloomy periods of the Revolution, his confidence in 
the final triumph of freedom and the cause of liberty, and the 
final success of the army under his command, never forsook him. 
While he felt for the trials of those under his command, and 
suffered with them, and his benevolent heart bled for their suffer- 
ings, and as far as in his power, endeavored to mitigate them, yet 
in his duty to his country, that had entrusted so great a task 
to him to perform he stood firm and unmoved, comparable to a 
rock firmly planted on the shore of a tempestuous ocean, against 
which the wind and waves and adverse storms, may beat with all 
their combined fury, but are unable to remove, or even shake it 
from its centre. To this, may in a great measure, be attributed 
his peculiar faculty of winning and securing the affections of the 
army at that critical time, and of their calmly listening to his 
parental advice, when on the brink of a revolt as noticed above. 
And it was from this source, and the unshaken confidence in the 
goodness of his cause, that on the occasion they reliquished their 
intentions, and quietly and cheerfully again resumed the severe 
hardships and self-denying duties of the camp. In this confidence 
he stood not alone ; there was a host of others, equally sanguine, 
and who endured, with equal firmness, many severe trials and 
disappointments, and firmly adhered and remained devoted to the 
cause they had espoused, during that memorable winter; time 
would fail to tell of all. I shall merely mention the names of 
Greene, Sullivan, Wayne, Mifflin, DeKalb and Lafayette, omitting 
a number of others equally patriotic and firm in their adherence to 
the cause of freedom. There is one, however inconsistent his 
conduct may appear to many, as a professed minister of Christian 
religion, and incompatible with the gospel of truth, yet his 
patriotism and devotion to the cause, and his firmness in adhering 
to it, during the gloomy period of the Revolution, may claim a 
few passing remarks. I mean the Rev. David Jones, chaplain to 
General Wayne's brigade, and for many years pastor of the Bap- 
tist congregation in the Great Valley. He early manifested a 
deadly hatred and hostility to the measures of the British govern- 
ment, and soon after the commencement of the Revolution, pub- 
lished a work in vindication of defensive war. I have understood 



The History of Valley Forge 65 

that it was his practice to preach at different stations during the 
time, and to encourage the officers and soldiers in his discourses, 
to persevere in contending against their enemies, frequently on 
these occasions using for his texts the fourteeth and nineteenth 
verses of the fourth chapter of the book of Nehemiah. 

During the encampment at Valley Forge, I have heard it said 
that Washington used often to retire to solitary places, and on 
one of these occasions, he was discovered by Isaac Potts engaged 
in vocal prayer. This circumstance is noticed by Weems in his 
life of Washington, and some comments made upon it by the 
author, of this circumstance concerning Isaac Potts, of the con- 
sistency of the sword and the Gospel. How far the account of 
this convincement is correct I am not prepared to say, as it is the 
■only account I have ever seen or heard of it. But I have heard 
the circumstance related, and the spot was pointed out to me 
several years before I saw the account published. And while I 
am not prepared to adopt the conclusion that Mr. Potts was thus 
convinced of the consistency of the sword and the Gospel, yet 
through the remainder of his hfe he was always a warm friend 
of Washington, and always spoke of him in terms of the highest 
respect. I v/as once told by a near relative of his, that previous to 
the time alluded to, he was unsettled in his adherence to the 
American cause, but his intimate acquaintance with Washington 
removed his objections, and in his latter days he was a firm 
republican in principle and practice. 

As I shall not have much more to say of the general sufferings 
of the camp, but shall in my future communications confine my- 
self to other matters of a more special nature that occurred dur- 
ing the time, I will just add before closing, that among those who 
were stationed here, enduring the sufferings and privations of that 
day, were many of the wealthy and respectable from all parts of 
the Union, and from the South there were some individuals, who 
have since filled important offices in the government, among 
whom may be mentioned the Butlers, Claibornes, Blounts, Lew- 
ises, Macons, Merrewethers, and many others from various parts 
of the Union, whose names are not recollected. In some of my 
future communications, I shall have further reference to the sub- 
ject. 



66 The History or Valley Forge 




LETTER XIII 

MORE ABOUT WHEEDON 

N ONE of my former letters some notice was given^ 
of General Wheedon, and also of my intention of 
giving some further information concerning him. It 
has been observed that he remained at his quarters 
but a short time, but short as it was, it was long; 
enough for the soldiers under his command to commit depreda- 
tions to so great an extent, that it required years to overcome the 
effects, and to restore the waste places produced in consequence of 
their rapacity. Almost every tree on the place was cut down or 
destroyed ; all the fences were either used for fuel, or carried off 
the premises, to be employed in constructing huts, or forming; 
picket guards. Their hay, grain, straw, fodder and vegetables, 
were all taken, as the General said, for the use of the army ; but 
the real object was believed to be for the sole purpose of serving- 
his own private interests. He exercised no restraint over the sol- 
diers in this particular, the consequence was that all their mova- 
ble property, not secured or removed beyond their reach, was 
taken by the soldiers with impunity, and the family were left 
nearly destitute of even the common domestic utensils, such as 
buckets, pots, kettles, pans, plates, knives and forks, and such 
things as were indispensably necessary. During the time of his 
quarters there, these depredations were committed, and I have 
often heard it related by many of the family that the only thing- 
not previously secured, that escaped their rapacity, was a grind- 
stone, which the General had ordered not to be removed on ac- 
count of the daily use they made of it to grind their knives and 
other edge tools. I have heretofore hinted at his severity to his 
soldiers ; he always kept a strong guard at the house, and during" 
the most inclement nights, exposed to all kinds of weather, the 
poor soldiers thus employed, walked to and fro through the yard, 
poorly fed and still more poorly clad. Often in the dead hours 
of the night, would some of the members of the family arise from 
their beds, and from the window of the second story of the house, 
which was the only part the family occupied, throw to the poor 
famished guards pieces of meat, crusts of bread, and any kind of 
provisions they had on hand, which, while shuddering with cold, 
they would seize with avidity, and devour with the greediness of 
a ravenous animal. 

His own aggrandizement and the acauisition of wealth seem& 



The History of Valley Forge dj 

to have been his leading motive in entering the service, and the 
accomplishment of these objects his governing principle. He had 
a number of private baggage wagons, conducted by his own 
slaves, and used for the purpose of conveying supplies for the use 
of the army, often at extravagant prices, which were extorted 
from the government on account of its necessitous situation, and 
at all times embracing every opportunity in his power to speculate 
on the public treasury, receiving his pay in continental money. 
But nearly enough has been said of him, unless it were better, and 
I shall soon take leave of him, by just mentioning that having in 
various ways accumulated a large amount of Continental money, 
and fearing it would die on his hands, he sold his teams, collected 
his slaves, resigned his commission, and returned to his home, to 
invest his money in real estate, and this is the last account I ever 
heard of him. 

DEKALB SUCCEEDS WHEEDON 

Upon the resignation of Wheedon, the command of the Vir- 
ginia line was given to Baron DeKalb, a German nobleman, whose 
character, life, services and death at Camden, in South Carolina, 
are too well known to need a description here. He also succeeded 
to the quarters of Wheedon, at my grandfather's, and soon a dif- 
ferent state of things were produced, and, while less servile hom- 
age was paid to his person by the soldiers, their affections were 
more firmly secured by his kind and affectionate treatment to 
them, at the same time his authority was more firmly established, 
and his orders obeyed, and more restraint placed over the sol- 
diers; order and regularity were restored, and the situation of 
the family much more pleasant than it had been previous to his 
arrival. The family having been supplied with things necessary 
for domestic purposes, by some of their relatives and friends, who 
lived beyond the scenes of devastation, the property was, through 
his authority, protected from much further depredation. His 
urbanity rendered him an agreeable companion, and laid the 
foundation of a lasting friendship between them. Much more 
might be related concerning the Baron, during his residence at the 
Tiouse, for I call it his residence, as he was there more than four 
months, and was always considered as one of the family; and 
from the day of his arrival until he left the place, he was always 
viewed more as an old friend and acquaintance than a perfect 
stranger from a foreign land. After leaving the place, whenever 
opportunity offered, a correspondence was kept up between him 
and my grandfather, and his last letter was written a few days 
previous to the battle of Camden, where he fell, and not received 
until some weeks after his death. This letter I regret has been 
lost. Another that was written a few weeks previous is still in 



68 The History of Valley Forge 

possession of the family, and was published in this and some other 
papers of this county about two years since. 

I have often heard his person and habits described by my 
mother ; he was tall of stature, and very erect for a person of his 
years, being more than sixty years of age, having been forty years 
in the Prussian service. He had a very open intelligent counte- 
nance, dark blue eyes, very expressive, a good set of teeth, well 
formed head, his hair gre}^ and his complexion, from long expos- 
ure, rather swarthy ; in his habits, temperate and abstemious ; his 
conversation, bland and interesting, and manners polite and agree- 
able, given to sociability — a man of liberal education, speaking, 
the English language well for a foreigner. I have heard her say 
he would sit for hours together with the family on long winter 
evenings, in relating incidents and many interesting accounts that 
had taken place under his immediate notice in Europe, one of which 
was a very lively account of a journey to his native place, a little 
time before his embarking for this country, to visit his aged par- 
ents, whom he had not seen for more than twenty years. The 
distance was about two hundred miles. His father and mother 
were then about eighty-seven years of age, both of them enjoying 
good health and unimpaired faculties, and capable of performing 
bodily labor. They were not in affluent circumstances, and the 
Baron had risen to preferment, not through the influence of wealth 
or claims to nobility, but through his own merit, having in early 
youth been accustomed to labor. He used to relate that when he 
arrived at his father's house, he found his aged mother busily 
engaged at her spinning, enjoying that satisfaction that can be 
felt only by those who can look in the evening of their day, on 
the reward of a w^ell-spent life. Upon inquiry for his father, he 
was informed that he was at work in a wood a short distance 
from the house ; and shortly after he went out to seek him, and 
met him returning home in company with a grandson, each laden 
with billets of wood for fuel. The meeting was a joyful one to 
all parties. When relating these circumstances, he used to men- 
tion it as one of the happiest days of his life, recalling to his mind 
the fond recollections of early days and the joyous scenes of his 
youth, which all the honors that had been conferred upon him had 
not been able to obliterate. His visiting his aged parents and 
spending some time with them in retirement, afforded him a satis- 
faction far superior to the din of battle, the noise of folly, the 
adulation of flattery, the tinsel of honor, or the baubles of royalty. 
The circumstances of this journey were themes of conversation 
he used to love to dwell upon, and which he hoped again to wit- 
ness, when his mission in this country should be accomplished. 
But this hope was never realized. At the battle of Camden, in 
South Carolina, he fell pierced with wounds, and soon breathed 
his last, far from his native home, and all his tender connections 



The History of Valley Forge 69 

in life. I have an idea that at the time he was here, he was a 
widower, and had left a family of children in Prussia ; but whether 
or not this is correct, I am not certain. If it were so, it may be 
one cause of his particular fondness for the children of the fam- 
ily, some of whom at that time were small. He used to treat 
them with great kindness, and in hours of relaxation would enjoy 
himself with their childish sports, always trying to please them 
and gain their affections. 

It may now be in place to mention a small matter related to 
me a few weeks since, by the only surviving one of the family 
living at that period — the venerable Elizabeth Reese, now living at 
the quarters of Lx)rd Sterling, near the Gulf Hills, in the eighty- 
second year of her age. At the time he was at her father's house, 
she was in the ninth year of her age, and was always his particu- 
lar favorite. When about to leave the place, upon taking an 
affectionate leave of the family, when bidding her an affectionate 
and final farewell, he took from his breast a ribbon, to which was 
fastened a star, which he always wore as a badge of his nobility, 
and presented it to her, telling her to keep it in remembrance of 
him. She kept it for a short time, when a little girl from a dis- 
tance came to see her, and wanting it, she, to use her own words, 
"foolishly gave it away," and it was never recovered. When 
mentioning the circumstance, she expressed her regret at having 
parted with it, not that it was of any great value, but that now in 
her old age of having it to look upon, and of having kept it in 
accordance with his request. 

During his residence at the place he always enjoyed himself 
agreeably, partook at the same table with the family, frequently 
furnishing them from his private stores, with many things that the 
situation of the family required, but could not be easily obtained 
on account of foreign trade being suspended, and but few if any 
manufactories being put in operation, and where any efforts were 
made to establish them, they were destroyed by the enemy, it 
being their policy to make the colonies as dependent as possible 
upon foreign nations, for all the necessaries of life. And such 
was the confidence reposed in the Baron, that I have often heard 
it related, that in a few instances when the heads of the family 
had io leave home for a few days, the family and domestic affairs 
were left in his charge, and were cheerfully undertaken by him, 
and his duties were faithfully attended to and discharged. On 
occasions exercising a parental care over the family, and a more 
rigid discipline over the soldiers and officers under his command. 
I might add much more concerning him if it were necessary; 
enough has been said to give an idea of his general character, and 
the friendship that existed between him and the family. 



70 The History of Valley Forge 




LETTER XIV 

OTHER DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNERS 

MONG the foreigners that arrived at Valley Forge in 
company with Baron DeKalb, one of the most noted 
was LaFayette, who, having been wounded at the 
battle of Brandywine, did not come with the main 
body of the army, but remained in order to recover 
from his wound, and if I mistake not, somewhere in the neigh- 
borhood of the battle ground. He took up his quarters at the 
house of Samuel Havard, about two miles south of Headquarters, 
on the Valley Creek, and remained there during the residue of the 
campaign. He used frequently to visit DeKalb at his quarters, 
which introduced the Marquis to an acquaintance with my grand- 
father's family. Of the other distinguished ones were Pulaski 
and Kosciusko, celebrated Polish officers; the first was slain at 
the battle of Savannah, and the second some years after the war 
returned to his native country, and was commander-in-chief of 
the armies of Poland at the time of their final overthrow, at the 
battle of the Bridge of Prague, by the combined armies of Russia, 
Austria and Prussia, and with the fall of whom perished the lib- 
erties of Poland, as Campbell the poet, in his vivid description of 
it, has observed, 

"Hope for a season bade the world farewell, 
And freedom shrieked as Kosciusko fell." 

Dupertale and Duponceau, French officers of whom I may here- 
after take some notice. Baron Steuben and Dubryson, Prussian 
officers, and many others that I have heard of, some of whose 
names I have heard, and others I have not heard, or if I heard, 
cannot now recollect; neither is it very material, as the most of 
them were not so conspicuous as those above noticed. I shall 
therefore pass them by at this time. 

DUBRYSON'S CAVE 

Dubryson, who was the particular friend of DeKalb during 
the time he was there, dwelt in a cave on the premises and near 
the house of my grandfather, the foundation of which remained 
till 1811, being for many years used as a place to break flax in. 
That year the present mansion house on the farm was erected and 



The History of Valley Forge 7.1 

the foundation of the cave filled up, and a part of the ground now 
forming the front yard covers the site of Dubryson's cave. Pu- 
laski I have understood (since writing a former letter) after his 
arrival had his quarters in the house of John Beaver, with the 
widow and family ; John Beaver died a short time previous to the 
arrival of the army. The others might have had their quarters 
in huts in the encampment, as I never heard of any of them having 
them at any of the houses in the neighborhood. They all used to 
visit Baron DeKalb at his quarters, as I have been informed by 
different members of the family. When I was between eight 
and nine years of age, having had frequent occasion to pass 
through the encampment ground with my father, and in one of 
these he pointed out to me the foundations of a large hut, and told 
me it had been occupied as the quarters of Baron Steuben, This 
was on the farm of Maurice Stephens, now belonging to William 
Henry, one of the present representatives in the General Assembly 
from the county of Montgomery, and on the same farm on which 
General Hutingdon was quartered. He at the same time face- 
tiously observed that the place over which we were then passing 
was called Steuben's Kitchen, from an incident that occurred 
when he took possession of it, which he then related to me, nearly 
as follows: 

STEUBEN'S KITCHEN 

The Baron was a man of wealth and something of an epicure, 
had brought with him from Europe a man who was a professed 
cook, the Baron possibly expecting to live in the same style and 
fare as sumptuously as he had in his own country. If so he met 
with disappointment. When the cook went to prepare dinner, 
on inquiring for the kitchen and cooking utensils, was directed 
to a fire outside the hut, around which forks were driven in the 
ground, and from poles placed upon them were pieces of meat 
suspended by strings, hanging before the fire to roast; and was 
told that the place where the fire was burning was the kitchen, 
and the strings by which the pieces of meat were suspended, the 
cooking utensils. The cook replied that the services of a man of 
his abilities were not required in America, and he would return to 
Europe. He soon after quitted the service, and returned home to 
employ his talents there, not relishing Steuben's Kitchen. Numer- 
ous other anecdotes and reminiscences of that period that I have 
often heard related, many of them by persons who witnessed them, 
might be related were they deemed of sufificient importance to 
claim the attention of my readers ; the most of them will therefore 
be omitted, together with many other incidents that occurred in 
the neighborhood of the encampment during the time of its con- 
tinuance there, as the recital of them would be tedious, and re- 
Quires more time than I can now give the subject. 



72 The History of Valley Forge 

SULLIVAN'S BRIDGE 

In a former number, I mentioned the place where Sulhvan's 
men were stationed, and promised to give some further informa- 
tion concerning it. As before noticed, they were placed on the 
river Schuylkill, between Headquarters and Fatland Ford. Dur- 
ing the time of the encampment at the place, Sullivan and his 
hardy New England boys constructed a bridge over the river, in 
order to facilitate their passage across in case they should be 
compelled to make a hasty retreat from the place, and to afford 
them more ready means of obtaining necessaries from the oppo- 
site side. This was done in the spring of 1778, by building piers 
in the river and placing timbers upon them in a rough and ready 
manner. What method they took to erect these pillars in the 
channel I have never learned. They were placed much nearer 
together than our modern bridges, and the span formed of one 
piece of timber, extending from one pier to another. The founda- 
tions of these pillars are, for aught I know, still remaining; when 
the water was low they could be distinctly seen. I have often seen 
them previous to the river being made navigable by slack water 
navigation ; since that time, the water being raised by a dam con- 
structed about two miles lower down the river, they are covered 
several feet under water, and the only object to mark the spot 
where the bridge once stood, is a stone placed on the bank oppo- 
site the place with the inscription on it of ''Sullivan's Bridge, 
1778." But I have got in advance of my narrative, and I must 
now return to Sullivan and his men. 

It has been several times noticed in former communications, 
that provisions were very scarce during that winter, to which we 
may also add that various means were resorted to in order to 
procure them ; and it may be in place here to relate a circumstance 
that was related to me, of the means made use of by these sturdy 
New Englanders to procure food. The account was given me by 
Henry Pawling, Esq., father of the late Levi Pawling of Norris- 
town, an eminent lawyer, for many years at the head of the Mont- 
gomery county bar, and a representative in the 17th Congress. 
Henry Pawling, who, at the time of the encampment, owned the 
property immediately opposite the place, and who resided all his 
life time on the same farm, informed me that he had often seen 
them during the winter, when the water was clear and not frozen 
over, wading in the water, braving the inclemency of the weather 
to hunt muscles for food, and when thus engaged they would 
jocosely observe that fresh water clams made good soup. 

I have often heard a story related concerning the bridge, be- 
fore removing to this county, and since my residence here, I met 
with an aged man, an officer in the Revolutionary Army, who 
was encamped there, and present at the time the conversation took 



The History of Valley Forge 73 

place. I allude to General Samuel Smith, late of Buckingham 
township, deceased, who related the circumstance nearly as I had 
always heard it from others. After the work was finished, Sulli- 
van invited General Washington and a number of other officers, 
with some people of the neighborhood, to come and see it and 
take a walk over it. A number of the officers and others complied 
with the request, among whom was David Stephens, who, residing 
near the place, was probably better acquainted with the freshets, 
that occurred in the river, and particularly those upon the break- 
ing up of the ice, than any of them present, was asked by Sullivan 
his opinion of the stabihty of the bridge, and how long he supposed 
it would stand, informed him that it might possibly stand till the 
next ice flood, but he was certain that upon the next breaking up 
of the ice, if accompanied by a heavy flood, it would be carried 
off. Sullivan, who was rather profane in his language, though in 
other respects an amiable and benevolent man, replied in language 
I shall not repeat, his assurance of the durability of his structure 
by positively declaring that all the ice floods that ever were or 
would be in the Schuylkill would not ever be able to destroy it 
It stood during the ensuing summer, but at the breaking up of the 
ice at the close of the next winter, it was, with the exception of 
the piers, carried away; and thus ended Sullivan's Bridge. One 
great cause of its being so soon carried off, was owing to its not 
being sufficiently high to admit the water and ice to pass under it; 
and the materials of which the passage was composed were so 
slightly put together, that they were unable either to stand a 
heavy pressure or a sudden rise of the stream. If I should judge 
from the remains of the piers, I should say the bridge was much 
narrower than similar structures of the present day, probably not 
more than twelve feet in width ; three pieces of timber extended 
from one pier to another across the stream, and upon these were 
laid pieces of timber for flooring, formed by splitting a log into 
two equal parts, the flat sides turned towards the water, and 
fastened to the sleepers by boring holes through them, and fasten- 
ing them with wooden pins. I think I have heard it related that 
during the time of the encampment the river did not rise to so 
great a height as it generally did during the winter, that the ice 
and snow gradually melted and passed ofif, without doing much 
damage, which may have been the cause of Sullivan's confidence 
in the durability of his bridge, which subsequently proved futile. 

I shall now draw the present communication to a close, by 
observing that in my next I shall have occasion to refer to some 
occurrences that took place during the time of the encampment, 
and also to have reference to the surrounding country after the 
close of the winter, and while the soldiers remained there in order 
to show, if possible, the dreary prospect that presented itself, and 
the discouragement under which the inhabitants labored. 



74 The History of Valley Forge 




LETTER XV 

SUFFERINGS OF CIVILIANS 

HE commencement of the year 177S was to people 
residing in the vicinity of Valley Forge, and to the 
army encamped there, one of deep interest, the re- 
membrance of which was never erased from the 
minds of those who passed through that trying sea- 
son, and were of sufficient age to recollect them. Those who were 
residents of the neighborhood, and engaged in the active duties of 
life, felt the severe effects of having the army encamped in their 
borders, on account of the losses they sustained, on account of 
requisitions that were forcibly made upon them for necessaries 
for the army ; while the soldiers suffered more than language can 
describe, from the combined effects of hunger, cold, sickness, 
want of clothing and almost everything essential to either comfort 
or convenience. The consequence was that of a general distraint 
being made upon all persons residing in the neighborhood of the 
fruits of their labor, and the products of their mills and farms, 
for the support of the great body of men encamped there — the 
nimiber being about eleven thousand — all of whom had to be fed 
and otherwise provided with the necessaries of life. In effecting 
these objects the country soon became exhausted of provisions, 
the timberland in the immediate vicinity of the encampment was 
soon cleared off, the fences destroyed, the stock and poultry taken 
for the use of the army, and frequently by theft. It is an old 
adage that necessity knows no law ; and the officers and soldiers at 
that time, and under the exigency of the occasion, seem to have 
been governed by it. The result was that many families, who, if 
not previously wealthy, were in good circumstances, and enjoying 
full and plenty of the real necessaries and comforts of life, were 
reduced to almost actiial want. 

SOLDIERS AS BEASTS OF BURDEN 

Before the opening of spring, the fuel necessary' for keeping 
the half clad warm was so far exhausted that a further supply 
had to be carried or brought from a distance; and such was the 
scarcity of the means of conveyance at the time, that it had to be 
brought to the camp by manual labor. Often have I heard people. 



The History of Valley Forge 75 

who remembered the time, mention their having seen the soldiers, 
particularly those from the Eastern States, and some of the 
subordinate officers, yoke themselves together like oxen, and on 
temporary sleds formed for the occasion, haul fuel in this man- 
ner from a considerable distance, eight, ten, or more of them 
forming a team, and using grape vines to draw them by instead 
of ropes. And when the provisions and other necessaries in the 
immediate vicinity of the place became in like manner exhausted, 
requisitions had to be made from those living more remote from 
the scene; and foraging parties were accordingly sent to scour 
various portions of country, in order to secure sustenance for the 
famishing army ; and when thus obtained, the conveyance of 
them to the place was often attended with great trouble and incon- 
venience, so that it is evident that much suffering and distress, 
both to the people and the army were the attendant consequence. 

HOSPITALS 

Yet, under all these trials they spent a period of near seven 
months, during which time, as before noticed, the small-pox was 
introduced into the camp, and many died from the effects of it; 
and hospitals and infirmaries had to be provided for those labor- 
ing under the disease. Previous to the encampment at the place, 
the sick and those that had been wounded at the battles of Brandy- 
wine, Germantown and the massacre of Paoli have been removed 
to Lancaster and Ephrata in Lancaster county, Reading in Berks 
county, the neighborhood of the Yellow Springs in Chester coun- 
ty, and other places, where hospitals had been provided for them. 
For the accommodation of those taken sick in the camp, the 
Friends' and Baptists' meeting houses in the Valley were taken 
possession of, and used for hospitals and infirmaries. For those 
laboring under contagious diseases, temporary ones were made a 
short distance beyond the lines of the camp, the location of one in 
particular I can point out; and many, both soldiers and officers, 
were placed in barns and private houses. Having thus passed 
through the winter, under all these disadvantages, spring as usual 
opened with all her beauty ; but such was the state of the country, 
that no agricultural business could be carried on ; the encampment 
still remained there ; the crops of winter grain that had been sown 
the preceding fall, were destroyed ; the fruitful fields laid waste ; 
their stock or farming utensils lost or carried off ; and nothing but 
the most dreary prospect presented itself, and the inhabitants and 
their families had to depend upon other sources for a supply of 
the common necessaries of life. 

I may almost add, that in addition to that portion of the army 
who came here with the commander-in-chief, re-inforcements 



76 The History of Valley Forge 

were arriving- at different times during the campaign from the 
northern army, as their services after the capture of Burgoyne, 
were not so necessary in that section of country, they were sent 
to augment the forces at this place. This caused an additional 
demand for things necessary for their support, and increased the 
burden of the already suffering inhabitants of the place. The 
meeting house belonging to the Society of Friends in the Valley 
(the main part of the building still remaining) being occupied by 
the army for a hospital, they were prevented from holding their 
meetings at the place ; but they assembled on their stated meeting 
days at the house of Isaac Walker, near the place, often having 
company of some of the officers, particularly Gen. Greene, who 
had been a member of the Society, and who, with others that at- 
tended, always^ conducted themselves .in an orderly and becoming 
manner. 

ABOUT SOME OF THE OFFICERS 

The officers who were quartered in different places in the 
neighborhood, of whom no special notice has been taken, I have 
always heard them spoken of as men of agreeable manners and 
social dispositions, though some of them had their peculiarities 
and eccentricities, yet they all endeavored to render the situation 
of the families as comfortable as lay in their power, and to pre- 
vent as little damage as possible being done to their property, so 
that their company might be as easy and agreeable as the circum- 
stances under which they were intruded upon, would permit. Of 
the commander-in-chief, nothing need be said, as his fame in pub- 
lic and private life needs no further eulogium; and abler pens 
have done justice to him, and his memory lives in the hearts of a 
grateful people. Of the others I shall notice only a few; among 
these are Greene, Wayne and Lafayette, of whom I have heard 
most notice taken. 

Greene was very affable in, his conversation, of agreeable man- 
ners, and handsome person, rather under the middle size, having 
the shrewdness peculiar to the people of New England ; his health 
was delicate, but he preserved it by his temperate and regular 
habits. 

Wayne, at that time, was about thirty-two years of age, 
healthy and active, of strong muscular powers, a Pennsylvania 
farmer by profession, rather above the middle size, with a fine 
ruddy countenance, and lively, expressive eyes. Though called 
Mad Anthony, on account of his daring courage when engaged in 
battle, his firmness of character and determined resolution, united 
with a hasty temper ; yet in all his intercourse he was affable and 
agreeable, not only to the inhabitants of the neighborhood, but to 
the officers and men under his command, and remarkable for his 
amiable behavior and polite and accomplished manners in private 



The History of Valley Forge yj 

life. He was a man of good education, an excellent mathemati- 
cian, and for several years previous to the war, while residing on 
his paternal estate, near Paoli, following, the occupation of a 
farmer, and if I mistake not of a tanner. He had also been much 
engaged as a practical surveyor, through different sections of the 
country about Valley Forge, which gave him a thorough knowl- 
edge of the location and people of the neighborhood, to many of 
whom he was related, his place of residence being in Eastown 
township, Chester county, about six miles from the encampment. 
I may probably give some further notice concerning it in a future 
number. 

Lafayette at this time was young, not more than twenty-one 
years of age. He was married and had left his wife in France. 
I have heard it said by those who have had an opportunity of 
being acquainted with him, that he was a very handsome person, 
with a fine, open and intelligent countenance, his hair red, his 
movements light and active, though not fully recovered from the 
wound he received at the battle of Brandywine, and possessing 
all the open frankness, vivacity and colloquial powers so peculiar 
of the people of France. I may in some future numbers have 
occasion to have some further reference to him. 

Lee and Conway, both foreigners, the one a native of England, 
the other of Ireland, were remarkable for their high and domi- 
neering spirits, and Mcintosh for many singular peculiarities and 
credulity. I might add much more concerning Sullivan, Mifflin, 
Muhlenberg, Potter and many others, whose amiable dispositions 
.and gentlemanly conduct, rendered them agreeable companions in 
the different families where they were quartered ; and when they 
left the place, the most of them left a favorable impression and 
an esteem for them in after life. To dwell longer on the subject 
would be a mere repetition ; I shall now pass from it to other mat- 
ters. 

In collecting these accounts, and endeavoring to recall to 
recollection what I have heard in days that are past and gone for- 
ever, I find many things occur to recall to remembrance facts that 
I have heard related of that period, by many persons who were 
witnesses to the passing events of the time, which, to use an oft 
quoted phrase, "tried men's souls," all- of whom with one excep- 
tion are now no longer in this state of existence, the most of 
which I would gladly insert, but they crowd upon my mind to so 
great an extent, that I must omit the most of them, some of 
which had better be buried in utter oblivion. I have now given an 
account of many of the principal events that transpired in con- 
nection with the encampment — of the distressed situation of the 
army upon their arrival at the place, the complicated sufferings 
and hardships they underwent during the time they continued 
there, of the combination to remove Washington from the com- 



78 The History of Valley Forge 

mand of the army, and many other matters that occurred previous 
to and about the time of their arrival, and during their continuance 
there. I now leave to the imagination of my readers to supply 
the deficiency, if any. And as there are yet some occurrences of 
the time that may justly claim further notice, I shall now draw 
this communication to a conclusion, and in my next I shall give an 
account of some few transactions that occurred at the place, as I 
have no recollection of ever seeing them published, that may 
possibly be of some interest to persons of the present day, espe- 
cially such as feel an interest in obtaining information concern- 
ing that interesting time that our ancestors passed through, ta 
purchase the freedom and liberty we now enjoy. 



The History of Valley Forge 79 




LETTER XVI 

ALARMS AND LOSSES 

S MENTIONED in my former letters, the encamp- 
ment continued here near seven months, the move- 
ments and conditions of it, remained very much the { 
same as nothing of much consequence occurred dur- 
ing the time, to disturb or change the daily monotony. 
There were occasionally during this season, some alarms of the 
approach of the enemy, which threw the officers and soldiers into 
active preparations to be prepared to receive them, and in some 
few instances a part of them went out to meet them, but they all 
turned out to be without foundation. They also had the effect 
of producing much fear and consternation among the people. 
Such was the state of both contending powers at this juncture of 
time, that neither of them felt much disposition to engage in an 
attack upon the other, and they remained quiet in their respective 
positions. 

After passing through the winter, less fuel and clothing were 
necessary, and through the efforts of Congress, and the persever- 
ing enterprise of many of the officers of the army, the Commis- 
sary Department was better supplied with provisions and other 
military stores, so that the suffering of the soldiers was, in some 
measure, mitigated. 

The people, as already noticed, suffered severe losses on ac- 
count of their hay, grain, fodder, horses, cattle, swine, poultry, 
and in fact almost everything they had, being taken for the use of 
the army. The property thus taken from them by officers acting 
under the authority of the superior officers of the army, they were 
paid for, either by certificates upon the Continental Congress, or 
in the Continental money of the day. The latter soon died in the 
hands of many of them, and ended in a total loss. 

THE HANGING OF A SPY 

During the time of this campaign, a person, I think from the 
city of Philadelphia, was found in the camp acting in the capacity 
of a spy for the enemy, and he was very summarily tried and exe- 
cuted by a military tribunal. The place where the gallows, on 
which he was hanged, stood was shown to me about twenty-five 
years ago, by an old man whom I overtook on the road near the 
place. He was a stranger to me. His residence, he said, was at 



8o The History of Valley Forge 

Pittsgrove, in the state of New Jersey, that he was a private in 
Potter's brigade, and had been encamped there, and had witnessed 
the execution ; he also mentioned the name of the individual who 
had been the victim. I had previously heard of a person of that 
name being executed as a spy during the time, and the place had 
been pointed out to me, w^hich was the identical one mentioned by 
the old man I met with, and I could not but admire his retentive: 
memory, that after a lapse of forty-seven years, he couM so. 
clearly point out the place of its location. This circumstance,^. 
together with other things that he related to me at the time, fully 
satisfied me that he had been one of the number encamped there, 
and one that had suffered severely at the time, and was entitled 
to a pension, that he was then endeavoring to obtain. 

To satisfy myself more fully on this head, I lately made in- 
quiry of my aunt, now the only one of the family living that wit- 
nessed the time, and who well remembers the passing events of 
that day, and she fully confirmed the account given me by the old 
man. She informed me that she well remembers the day of the 
execution, and of seeing the gallows with a portion of the rope 
upon it, which remained there for a considerable time after the 
departure of the army, and that she was often at the place while 
it stood there. It was erected on the land of David Stephens, a 
little north of the Gulf Road, near the comer of a piece of land 
known by the name, "The Fifty Acres," being near the corner of 
the line between Chester and Montgomery counties. The land 
on which it stood now belongs to William Henry. I have pur- 
posely omitted giving the name of the individual who was exe- 
cuted, as there are many of the same name living in various parts 
of the country, within the circle of my acquaintance, but I cannot 
say whether any of them are connected with him or not. I have, 
therefore, avoided giving it to the public, but have furnished the 
printers with it. 

A DUEL 

While the army remained here, a duel took place, between a 
Lieutenant Green, from New England, and an officer from the 
South, whose name and rank I have now forgotten. What it was 
that led to the rash and foolish act I have never understood. The 
place of meeting was about a quarter of a mile northeast of 
where the gallows stood, on land then belonging to John Moore. 
In the engagement Greene was wounded, and died soon after^ 
and was buried at the Friends' burial ground, at the Valley Meet- 
ing-house, with the honors of war (so called). My aunt, the 
venerable Elizabeth Reese, the person just noticed, now in the 
82nd year of her age, says she well remembers seeing the proces- 
sion passing through their orchard, a little north of the house. 



The History of Valley Forge 8i 

with muffled drums, and moving slowl}^ to the tune of the dead 
march. A blanket had been procured in the neighborhood, in 
which his remains were wrapt, and thus consigned to the grave. 

I have heard my grandmother say that after his death, request 
was made of her for a sheet to bury him in, but such was her 
stript condition, that she could not comply with their request. 
They then called on a woman named Mary Pugh, from whom 
they obtained the blanket. Twenty-eight years after, in digging 
a grave at the place, his bones were disinterred. The blanket in 
which they had been wrapped, when discovered, appeared in a 
state of preservation, but on coming to the air it fell to pieces. I 
saw the bones soon after they were discovered, and well remem- 
ber the soundness of the teeth; the blanket I did not see, but was 
informed of the circumstances, and whose bones they were, by 
Isaac Walker, a man of unblemished character and reputation, 
who had charge of the graveyard at the time, and who resided 
near the place at the time of the interment, and who was always 
renowned for correct observations and retentive memory. 

SOME ADDENDA 

I shall now make some addition to the former accounts, the 
information having been recently obtained, and which would more 
properly belong to my eighth and eleventh letters. In my eighth, 
I mentioned never having met with any account of General 
Wheedon in any accounts of the Revolutionary War, or American 
biography. A few days since, I found in the Pineville library, a 
work entitled, "Washington and the Generals of the Revolution," 
in which there is a short notice of him, the whole of which is 
contained in about twenty lines duodecimo pages, and taken from 
the notes of an English traveler, made about the commencement 
of the Revolution, who speaks of having lodged at his tavern. 
The account given concerning him there, I do not think fully cor- 
rect. He calls him George Wheedon. His name, I always un- 
derstood, was Joseph Wheedon, and the cause of his resigning his 
office and returning home, is differently stated from what I have 
always heard it stated from correct information. 

In my eleventh letter, some mention was made of officers being 
quartered at the houses of Samuel Jones and Samuel Richard, 
but could not give positive information concerning them. In the 
library at Pineville, I also met with a history of the War of Inde- 
pendence, in which is an engraved map of the encampment at 
Valley Forge. The outlines of the encampment, the fortifications 
and breastworks, the courses of the river and stream, and many 
other things are correctly laid down ; but the plan of the arrange- 
ment of the different positions, and the quarters of the general 
officers, are not at all as I have heard them represented by persons 



82 The History of Valley Forge 

who had every means in their power to obtain correct information 
at the time, and the most of them from actual knowledge. In 
that map, Generals Woodford, Scott, Clever, Sernea, and Patter- 
son, are represented as stationed on the front line. I never heard 
of the last three being quartered, or the brigades under their com- 
mand stationed anywhere in the neighborhood, but still they may 
have been. The two first I now remember, upon seeing their 
positions laid down upon the map, to have heard that these were 
the officers that were quartered at the houses of Samuel Jones and 
Samuel Richards, Woodward at the latter, and Scott at the for- 
mer place, which is now occupied as a hotel, known by the name 
of Keugel's Tavern, on the State Road, leading from New Hope, 
through Doylestown, Norristown, and West Chester to the Mary- 
land line, about six miles from Norristown and between two and 
three miles from Valley Forge. I now have a perfect recollec- 
tion of the two last mentioned officers being quartered at these 
places, the relation having been given me by a daughter of the 
said Samuel Richards, the late Elizabeth Walker, who died about 
sixteen months ago, in the 84th year of her age. 

In my next I shall give you an account of some persons who 
were here during the time of the campaign, who have since filled 
some very important and conspicuous stations in the history of 
our country, and discharged important trusts and filled high of- 
fices in government, and some other matters, that may be of inter- 
est to at least some of my readers. 



The History of Valley Forge 83 




LETTER XVII 

"BENEVOLENT FEMALES" 

N THIS letter I hope to bring to a conclusion the 
greater part of the account I shall give of the en- 
campment. Much more might be added, as I have 
heard many other things related that would be worthy 
of notice, particularly the kindness and compassion 
with which the poor soldiers were treated, by many of the inhabi- 
tants of the neighborhood — how they were often supplied with 
food and other necessaries by the charity of the people, and their 
wants administered to as far as ability was afforded. If neces- 
sary I could give the names of many benevolent females, at the 
houses of whom some of the general officers were quartered, pre- 
paring for the hungry guards, after exposure during the night, a 
comfortable breakfast in the morning, and furnishing them with 
stockings and other necessary articles, in their tried situations, to 
protect them from the cold; but to particularize them and their 
charitable acts would exceed the limits of the design I had in 
view in the commencement of the work. I shall, therefore, pass 
by the most of them. Among them there are a few that I shall 
slightly notice. These are Sarah Walker, Elizabeth Stephens, 
Priscilla Stephens, Margaret Beaver, Elizabeth Moore and Jane 
Moore. The two first were dead before my time; the four last 
all died between the years 1812 and 1820. I mention these not 
because there were no others worthy of a place or notice here, 
but merely to inform my readers that I once remember to have 
seen the four last meet together, about thirty years after the cam- 
paign, and although they fought not their "battles o'er again," yet 
they found much exercise for their conversational powers, is dis- 
coursing of the events at the time of the campaign ; and although 
nearly forty years have elapsed since that time, yet the lively in- 
terest I took in listening to them is still fresh in my memory. 

LATER CELEBRITIES 

I shall now proceed to give some notice of persons who were 
here during the time, who have since risen to eminence in political 
affairs, and filled important offices in civil government. The 
biographies of many of these are too well known to need a repeti- 
tion in a work like this. The account of them will, therefore, be 
very brief. 



84 The History of Valley Forge 

Among these were two persons, who, on account of the impor- 
tant stations they have since filled, and some other circumstances 
known to most of the American people, which have rendered them 
very notorious, viz., the death of the one, and the subsequent dis- 
honorable life and neglected death of the other; on this account 
these two individuals will be first noticed. These were Alexander 
Hamilton and Aaron Burr — the former one of the aids of the 
Commander-in-Chief, and his reputed privy counsellor; the latter 
commanded a regiment attached to General Varnum's brigade. 

Of those that were there, a few only among the many can be 
enumerated : among these were Colonel Trumbull, more generally 
\ known as one of the first historical painters in the United States, 
j He was also one of the aids of the Commander-in-Chief ; and, 
'■ with Hamilton and others, stationed near or at Headquarters; 
Timothy Pickering, since extensively known in the National Cabi- 
net and House of Representatives ; George Clinton, since Vice 
President of the United States ; Henry Dearborn, Secretary of 
War during the administration of Thomas Jefferson, and Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the army at the commencement of the War of 
1812, and since minister to Portugal; Joseph Hiester, Governor of 
Pennsylvania, elected in the year 1820; Richard Peters, District 
Judge of the United States Court for the district of Pennsylvania ; 
Thomas Forrest, a member of Congress for the city and county of 
Philadelphia, in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Congresses; 
Thomas Blount, of North Carolina, a member of Congress, elected 
to a seat in the House during the early part of the administration 
of Washington, and successively re-elected during the administra- 
tions of Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, until the time of his 
death, which occurred at Washington during the early part of the 
3^ear 1812; and many others whose names I might mention, and 
others that I have forgotten ; and, therefore, let them pass without 
any further observation. 

In noticing the names of the above persons, commissioned of- 
ficers of the army only were taken in view. 

Among the privates there were no doubt many who have since 
risen to eminence in public life, wdio were unknown even by 
name to many of the inhabitants of the place. But there was one 
individual, who was here as a private soldier, in the infantry, 
suffering, in common with his companions in arms, all the hard- 
ships and deprivations that have been so often described, who has 
j since risen to one of the highest gifts in the power of the Chief 
■' Magistrate of the nation to bestow. I mean John Marshall, late 
Chief Justice of the United States. 

I was once informed by John Moore, who owned the land on 
which the fort bearing his name was erected, and who always 
resided on the same farm, and at the time of the campaign must 
have been more than twenty-one years of age, that during the 



The History of Valley Forge 85 

time James Madison, since President of the United States, was 
there a private in a troop of cavalry, that he had often seen him 
during the time. Not having in my possession any biography of 
James Madison, and having no recollection of ever having in all 
the accouts I have read of him, seen any mention made of his 
having, at any time during the contest, entered the service of the 
Continental Army, I do not state this as a positive fact. My in- 
formant was a man of credibility, but he might have been mis- 
taken in regard to the person. I heard him mention the circum- 
stance during the canvass of the Presidential election of 18 12, 
between James Madison and Dewitt Clinton. 

MORE ABOUT THE CAMP 

Having now noticed many of the incidents of that interesting 
period, in former numbers, I may here be allowed to introduce a 
few more additional remarks concerning the encampment, which 
ought more properly to have claimed notice in some former let- 
ters, but were inadvertently omitted. These are a further de- 
scription of the fortifications and an occount of some of the pub- 
lic buildings that were erected and used for the army ; a view of 
the face of the country, as I have heard it represented at the 
time of its being taken possession of for the use of the army, and 
the state it was left in on their removal. 

THE FORTS 

The breastworks have been described. The forts were formed 
by making large embankments of earth, by digging a trench about 
eight feet wide and four feet deep, the earth excavated in the 
process forming the embankment. The forts called Moore's Forts 
on the northeast extremity, were enclosed by three mounds, on 
four sides, with a small exception on the northwest side, which 
was left open for egress. A fort erected near the house of David 
Stephens, was constructed on a similar plan, except that the place 
of egress was on the southeast side. Those that were surrounded 
by embankments on every side, or nearly so, were in the form of 
a trapezium, having the longest line on the side from which they 
had most reason to expect an attack from the enemy. The aver- 
age length of the lines, or mounds enclosing them, I should sup- 
pose varied from ten to sixteen in length. The other forts were 
all erected in the same way, except that, if I rightly recollect, 
they were enclosed only on three sides, except those in the centre, 
which were more strongly entrenched by embankments on every 
side. The forts known as John Moore's Fort and David Steph- 
en's Fort, near his residence, were placed on eminences from 
which a view of the surrounding country on both sides of the 
river could be commanded, and they be used to prevent the enemy 



86 The History of Valley Forge 

crossing the river. The former could also be used to check the 
progress of an attack on the same side of the river it was con- 
structed. Mordecai Moore's Fort could be used on similar occa- 
sions, but it chiefly commanded a view of that portion of country, 
from which the most danger of an attack was contemplated, as it 
lay nearest the city of Philadelphia, where the enemy were then 
encamped. The others on the Rear Line, and one near the ter- 
mination of the breastwork on the Front Line, to be used in case 
of an attack by a circuitous route. In addition to these, there 
were a few others in the centre used as magazines, and intended 
as places to retreat to, as the last means of defense, should they 
be found necessary. 

BAKE-HOUSE AND ARMORY 

A public bake-house was established at Valley Forge, in the 
house now occupied by the proprietor, for the use of the army.; 
but this was insufficient to supply the whole demand, and many 
poor families in the neighborhood of the encampment earned 
their bread by baking for the soldiers and some officers, not in the 
vicinity of the bake-house. 

A temporary armory was erected on the west side of the Val- 
ley Creek, at Valley Forge, and used for the purpose of making 
and repairing arms for the use of the army, but I never heard of 
it being used for that purpose by the Continental troops after 
their departure from the place. It stood near the site of the old 
knitting mill. 

I shall now conclude this letter, by observing that in my next I 
shall give the account, as promised, of the appearance of the face 
of the country, at the time of their taking possession of it, and 
some other subjects that occurred at the time. 




The History of Valley Forge 87 

LETTER XVIII 

PROVISION STORE 

HE LINES of the encampment did not extend to the 
westward of the Valley Forge a great distance, not 
exceeding a mile ; as little danger was felt of an at- 
tack from that quarter. At the house of a person 
named Frederic Geerhart, near the western line, a 
general depository or provision store for the use of the army, was 
established. My father, during the most of the campaign, had 
the charge or superintendency of it. Similar ones may have been 
established in other places, but I have no recollection of ever 
hearing of any of them particularly designated. It was in deposi- 
tories of this kind that the provisions for the use of the army, 
whenever, as was seldom the case, were more than sufficient for 
the immediate use of the army, were placed, to be delivered out 
as necessity required in rations to the troops for their support. 

BEFORE AND AFTER 

The whole of the country embraced in the lines of the en- 
campment, on both sides of the Valley Creek, and some portion 
of country lying in the Great Valley, on the eastern side of the 
Front Line Hill, at the time of the arrival of the army, was either 
a dense forest of heavy timber, or highly cultivated farms. As 
regards the state of agriculture in that day, an extensive business 
in the manufacture of bar iron and flour for exportation had been 
carried on at Valley Forge, and that portion of country lying in 
the Great Valley, being of a highly productive nature, and owned 
by Thomas Waters, Abijah Stephens, Benjamin Jones, Jacob 
Walker, John Beaver and Joseph Walker, in Chester county, and 
Mordecai Moore and John Moore, in Montgomery county, teemed 
with the flocks and herds, and produced abundantly of the real 
necessaries of life, which were the chief objects of agriculture of 
that day ; the buildings and improvements on them good, substan- 
tial and commodious, for that early day, when luxury and false 
show and splendor had not usurped the place of real comfort and 
convenience. But upon their departure, a far different appear- 
ance in the face of the country, presented itself. The stately 
forests, consisting of the venerable oak, the majestic hickory, and 
numerous other trees, beautiful, young and thrifty, were promis- 
cuously cut down, the fences used for the enclosures taken away, 



88 The History of Valley Forge 

for fuel, or, as before noticed, used in the construction of huts or 
forming pickets. The flocks and herds, lately so abundant upon 
them, all taken for the use of the army. At the Valley Forge, 
the sound of the hammer was no longer heard in manufacturing 
iron ; the naked walls of the buildings, lately used for the pur- 
pose, were all that remained to remind observers of the business 
lately conducted there. It is true, all the buildings on the prop- 
erty of other persons in the vicinity of the encampment, were not 
destroyed. The enemy and our own troops had not burned or in 
no other way destroyed any of them, but the people had been, in 
consequence of the peculiar situation in which they had been 
placed, and tried state of the army, had been deprived of almost 
all the necessaries of life in addition to their lands being thus laid 
waste. So that the country then presented nothing but the pic- 
ture of wasting and destruction. I cannot, of course, remember 
that period of time, but while writing these things, my mind is 
carried back in retrospection to the times alluded to, they bring 
afresh to my memor)% what I have so often heard repeated con- 
cerning them, that I sometimes almost fanc}^ I lived in that day, 
and that I have actually beheld the scenes I have endeavored to 
present to my readers. 

THE BRITISH INFORMED 

In my next I shall have some further allusions to the subject. 
The remainder of this I wush to devote to some matters that oc- 
curred near the close of the campaign, and particularly to a cir- 
cumstance that occurred about that time, that I have never seen 
any account of, that shows that the movements of the Continental 
Army were either very closely and secretly watched, or that the 
fidelty of some of the superior officers was not to be fully trusted 
to. I have often heard my father relate the circumstance, and 
as he belonged to the army, and was well acquainted with all its 
movements, I publish it, probably for the first time, upon that 
authenticity, and endeavor to give it as nearly as possible as I 
have heard it related by him. In giving this account, it will be 
necessary to take some notice of the British army, under command 
of General Howe. 

After the battle of Germantown, and the passage of their fleet 
up the Delaware to Philadelphia, they were left in absolute pos- 
session of the city, where they entered in triumph to take up their 
winter quarters, enjoying every luxury and abundance even to 
excess, as their sovereign, in whose ser\ace they were engaged, 
furnished them liberally with the means of gratifying the vain 
mind. W^hile Washington and his army were at \^alley Forge, 
suffering all the accumulated miseries, hardships and privations 
that have been mentioned, many of them barely sheltered from the 
inclement storms by the miserable huts they dwelt in, the enemy 



The History of Valley Forge Sq 

were dwelling secure in their comfortable houses, and though fre- 
quently feeling inconvenience for the want of fuel, yet they were 
well fed and well clothed ; and, if not marrying and giving in 
marriage, they were eating and drinking, rioting and feasting, 
enjoying their parties of pleasure, attending balls and visiting 
theatres, and various other amusements. And to crown the 
whole, towards the close of the campaign, when Gen. Howe was 
about to leave the country and return to England, the officers re-' 
solved to honor him by a splendid pageantry or fete called the 
Merchianza, for a full description of which my readers are re^ 
ferred to Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, and Sherman Day's 
Historical Researches of Pennsylvania, under the head of "Phila- 
delphia," where they will find a very graphic description given of 
it. [It may here be noticed that I saw about two years ago 
(1848) in the possession of John F. Watson, of Germantown, one 
of the original cards of invitation to this splendid fete.] 

Through their long and uninterrupted course of selfish pleasure, 
thinking themselves secure from danger, they had become rather 
careless about guarding their outposts from surprise. Washing' 
ton thinking this a very suitable time, to make an attack upon some 
of these stationed near the Wissahickon, between Germantown 
and the Schuylkill, hoping by a manoeuvre of this kind to par- 
tially weaken some of their forces, and to secure some of their 
stores, arms, ammunition and artillery. In order that the utmost 
secrecy might be observed, he called a council of officers, at 12 
o'clock at night, at Headquarters. Of whom this council con- 
sisted, I have never fully understood, but Generals Lee and Knox 
and Col. Hamilton, together with a few others constituted it. 
The result of the conference was that they agreed that on the 
next day, a detachment of the army was to march from the en- 
campment, across the river Schuylkill, at Matson's Ford, opposite 
Conshohocken, and fall upon the outposts early in the morning of 
the second day after the consultation. The plan being thus ar- 
ranged, it was supposed to be only known to the officers who 
were present at the conference, and upon whom the utmost secrecy 
was enjoined, until the commencement of the march. 

Preparations were made to carry the attack into effect, and 
though they had every reason to believe their movements were 
known only to the aforesaid officers who were charged with the 
execution of it, yet Washington with that caution that always 
characterized him, was unwilling to allow the main body to pro- 
ceed, without sending in advance a small body of men to recon- 
noitre the country and if possible, to discover whether any of the 
enemy were lying in ambush or on their way to meet them. This 
party upon arriving on an eminence, upon the Gulf Road, near the 
house of John Hughes, from which place, there is a distinct view 
of Barren Hill, discovered a body of the British army marching 



90 The History of Valley Forge 

out to meet them, and it was ascertained they lay in ambush near 
the Schuylkill, in order that when our troops were crossing the 
river, which they meant to wade, it not being more than three feet 
deep, attack them at the time, when owing to the disadvantages in 
which they would be placed, they would have been easily sub- 
dued. It was evident that the enemy had notice of their intended 
movement, but in what way it was conveyed has never and, in all 
probability, never will be known. \Miether some person, like 
Lydia Darrah, was hstening to the officers while in secret con- 
clave, and conveyed the intelligence, or whether some of the of- 
ficers proved treacherous, and being in league with some of the 
disaffected Tories of that day. some of whom were ever ready, 
through the love of British gold, to act as messengers and thus 
convey intelligence to the enemy, must always be a matter of con- 
jecture. I could give my father's opinion, but think best to for- 
bear for the present. The prudence and precaution of Washing- 
ton frustrated their object. The American army, after com- 
mencing their march, received the information from the body of 
men sent in advance, and they all returned to camp. 

I shall now take leave of the transactions of the army at the 
encampment, and in my next give an account of their departure. 




The History of Valley Forge 91 



LETTER XIX 

DEPARTURE AND DESOLATION 

N COMMENCING this communication, I shall com- 
mence with the departure of the army from the place; 
this occurred in the fore part of the summer of 1778. 
The same caution that had rendered it necessary upon 
__ their arrival to conduct their marches with as much 

secrecy as possible, was as essential at the time of their departure, 
and little or no notice was given to the main body of the army, or 
to the inhabitants of the vicinity, of their removal, previous to 
the morning of their march. The British having evacuated Phila- 
delphia, our troops took possession of it the same day. Leaving 
the encampment at Valley Forge was so unexpected to the soldiers 
that I was once informed by a woman who baked for the army, 
that she had received from the soldiers her usual supply of flour, 
to be baked for them on the day of their departure, all of which 
v/ere left on her hands, furnishing her and her family with an 
unexpected and welcome supply of the staff of life. I have also 
heard it related, that soon after their departure, there was found 
in the camp, by persons whom curiosity had led to visit the place, 
in huts where baking and other culinary operations were per- 
formed, batches of dough left in an unbaked state, on account of 
their sudden march ; and also many other utensils, such as camp 
kettles, cabooses (one of which I believe is in our family at this 
time), axes, canteens, and numerous other articles that could not 
be collected or taken off, in the hurry of the occasion. 

It was a very common thing, since my recollection, to find on 
the ground some memento of that period. I have often, in com- 
pany with my elder brothers and other boys, sometimes with 
grown persons, generally strangers, who, when in the neighbor- 
hood, had a curiosity to visit the place, and sometimes alone have 
I spent hours in traversing the ground in search of these relics of 
the Revolution — not that they were of any great value, but to 
possess them as curiosities to remind us of that period. There 
is even at the present day, sometimes an occasional relic of that 
day turned up by the ploughshare. 

But I am digressing from the subject of their departure, and 
must return to it; and by introducing a fanciful view of the time 
and place, endeavor to show my readers the distressed situation 
and appearance of the place. I must request them, in idea at 
least, to accompany me to the neighborhood of the place and the 



92 The History of Valley Forge 

scenes I have been describing. Let us fancy ourselves arrived 
there, and in imagination let us consider it to be in the midsum- 
mer of 1778, and that we are standing on Mordecai Moore's fort, 
from which, in every direction that we turn our eyes, on both 
sides of the Schuylkill, we behold from this eminence, particularly 
on the western side in the Great Valley, a portion of country 
excelled by very few, if any, in fertility, in the state of Pennsyl- 
vania, and lately fruitful as the rich land of Goshen, and beautiful 
to look upon as the well watered plains of Jordan, and, if rightly 
improved, would produce abundance. But all around is nothing 
but desolation — the fields are destitute of vegetation, and the 
lands, once so highly productive, lie uncultivated and without 
enclosure. The trees of the forest are all cut down, and nothing 
but the stumps left remaining; wasting destruction and devasta- 
tion are apparent wherever we turn our eyes on that side of the 
river. This gloomy prospect leads us to enquire. Why are these 
things so? , 

Let us now imagine that we fall in company with some of the 
Moores, and Walkers, or Stephenses, or other of the worthies of 
that day, who from severe experience had known the causes that 
had produced these effects; and they would inform us in answer 
to our questions, that they were produced from the war they were 
then engaged in ; and the desolation we everywhere behold around 
us was produced by the encampment at that place, that these were 
the effects of it. They would explain to us the use of the fortifi- 
cations and redoubts, and show us the pickets, then, pointing to 
the south and west, would show us the miserable huts that were 
hastily erected to shelter the poor, famished and suffering soldiers 
from the inclement storms of the preceding winter ; and directing 
our attention to the place lately abounding with the lofty, tower- 
ing oaks and other stately forest trees, and to their fertile lands, 
now lying a common ; they would tell us their timber was cut 
down, and their fences taken to construct huts and pickets and to 
furnish fuel for the soldiers, to protect and preserve them from 
the cold chilling wind and driving snow. It is thus they would 
inform us of the causes that had thus laid waste that fair portion 
of country; and at the same time relate to us many interesting 
anecdotes of that period, which have never been published. They 
would ask us to accompany them to Valley Forge, and there they 
would point to us the same feature of desolation, though not the 
same fertility of soil, all lying waste; they would show us the 
naked walls of the buildings, lately burned by the enemy, and tell 
us that where there is now nothing but gloomy silence, was lately 
heard the sound of the hammer and the himi of business, and there 
was seen the hardy laborer busily engaged in manufacturing iron 
for useful and peaceful purposes ; but now all is still, gloomy and 
death-like. From thence they would conduct us to other parts of 



The History of Valley Forge 93 

the ground occupied by the encampment ; and, in all our rambles, 
the same evidence of desolation would be still apparent everywhere 
in the course of the journey — for the fruitful field had become des- 
olate; and the garden a waste place. But while showing to us 
the dreary state of things, and, though for the present discour- 
aged under the prospect of things and the state of affairs, yet 
they would express a hope of the return of better days, when their 
waste places should through industry be again restored, and their 
gardens now desolate should blossom as the rose, and peace return 
like the dove bearing the olive branch and be again restored in our 
borders. 

I shall now leave this imaginary scene, which has been intro- 
duced as a picture to show the state of the place, after the army 
had removed from there, and that I might in some of my future 
numbers contrast it with its present appearance. I shall proceed 
to remark, that it is not my intention to pursue the movements of 
the army any further after leaving the place, my object being to 
give, as nearly as I possibly can, a history of the Valley Forge, as 
promised in my first letter. The movements and condition of the 
army after leaving that place has, therefore, very little if anything 
further to do with the subject. Those that wish further informa- 
tion on that head are referred to the history of the Revolution. 
Neither is it necessary for me to dwell much on that period of 
time that elapsed between their removal from this place to the 
final establishment of our independence by the treaty of Amiens, 
a period of near five years, as nothing of much importance oc- 
curred in that time that need require notice. In my next I shall 
refer to some matters relating to the sufferings of the people, 
and the huts that were left on the land of different persons in the 
lines of the encamxpment, and the difficulties they met with on 
account of the loss of their property. 

A FEW REFLECTIONS 

Before I close this account of the departure of the army from 
the encampment ground, indulge me for a few moments in ex- 
pressing a few reflections that involuntarily present themselves. 
In contemplating that interesting period of time when the army 
was encamped here, and reflecting on the number that composed 
it, a query very naturally arises of this kind— ^Where are they 
now? Since that period seventy-two years have passed away; 
and taking into view that the most of them must have been more 
than twenty years of age, it must appear evident that very few if 
any of them are now (1850) in mutability; if there be any re- 
maining, they have advanced to that age that they are becoming 
strangers in the midst of a new succession of men. And if it be 
not the case now, it will be in a very short time, that there will be 



94 The History of Valley Forge 

none left to tell us of these things that they have witnessed and I 
have endeavored to describe. Among the circle of my acquaintance, 
which is by no means limited, I now know of none of that portion 
living. And during a residence of more than twenty-two years in 
Bucks county, I never met but three persons who formed a part of 
that body, and these have descended to the grave in a good old age. 
Their names were Samuel Smith, Andrew Dennison and James 
Kirk — the two first well known to many of my readers. An ex- 
pression made use of by the venerable Andrew Dennison the last 
time I ever saw him may be with propriety inserted in this place ; 
the day was cold and windy, the ground covered with snow, when 
I overtook him in the road near Forestville and gave him a seat 
in the sleigh to ride with us. Upon some remarks upon the in- 
clemency of the weather, he replied : "The people of the present 
day know nothing about cold; if the young men of the present 
day, with all the advantages they possess, had to pass through 
what I and my fellow soldiers passed through at Valley Forge, 
the very thoughts of it would make them quail." There may 
have been during the time of my residence here, many of these 
patriots living, but I never to my knowledge met with them ; there 
may still be, but I know them not. 

Of those who have been alluded to who have paid the debt of 
nature, and who were among the number who shared the severe 
sufferings of the camp, it is an instructive and interesting engage- 
ment to contemplate the subsequent history of their lives. Among 
those who survived the war and returned to their families and 
friends, could it be possible for us to ascertain fully their future 
lives, we would see some among them rising to eminent stations in 
civil government, others in commercial, mercantile, agricultural 
and mechanical operations, that have risen to wealth, eminence 
and respectability ; some who, in the various and devious paths of 
literature, have shone conspicuous and become ornaments to 
their country and a blessing to civil and religious society. We 
look upon the lives of those with a pleasing satisfaction, and may 
feel justly proud of and thankful for our free and liberal govern- 
ment, which gives to all an equal opportunity to eminence in the 
world, and fulfil our duties as members of this great and growing 
republic. But while we enjoy this fond view, there is cause of 
deep regret, when we also reflect that there are many others of 
them who were blessed with talents and abilities to have rendered 
themselves equally eminent and useful and to have made them if 
not equally opulent, at least wholly respectable, who have through 
low and debasing habits, to which they have given way, lost their 
standing in society, glided down the streams of intemperance and 
insignificance, and been buried in the gulf of oblivion. But while 
we regret their infirmities, let us draw a veil over their frailties, 
and leave them to repose. 



The History of Valley Forge 95 




LETTER XX 

A COMMUNITY PROSTRATE 

N MY LAST, the army had left the encampment, and 
I had endeavored to represent in as clear a manner 
as possible the dreary state of the neighborhood after 
their removal; but the state of things can be better 
imagined than described. Language would fail to 
give anything like an adequate idea of it, as I have heard it often 
represented by persons who had learned and known the then 
state of things by experience. I may here remark that while all 
parts lying contiguous suffered from the effects in a greater or 
less degree, that part of it lying on the south and east of the Front 
Line Hill suffered most severely. The greater part of the men 
were stationed there, and their destitute condition placed them in 
a situation, in which to obtain fuel and provisions necessary forced 
them to observe the old adage concerning it, viz., that "necessity 
knows no law"; and acting under the impulse of it, the countfy 
was soon cleared of all the timber, rails, provisions, and all other 
things they could possibly obtain. 

Among those who suffered most severely was my grandfather 
— in truth this calamity fell heavily upon him. His timber, as 
before noticed, was all cut down and carried off the premises, 
either for fuel or constructing of huts, and all the rails on his 
farm of more than two hundred acres were used for similar 
purposes. Very few huts were erected on his premises, it lying 
principally on the south of the Front Line Hill. From the de- 
struction of timber and loss of rails and other property none were 
exempt, all fared alike, no partiality was shown in this respect, 
except as the general officers quartered at different places exer- 
cised in some measure their authority when it was carried to too 
great an excess in taking things that were used in the different 
families for domestic purposes. While the army remained here, 
the people of the place were very much on an equality as regarded 
their property and living, and the future prospects of overcoming 
their losses very much the same. As the prospect was a very 
dreary one, they all concluded that their timber and rails were all 
destroyed, and difficulties would have to be surmounted before 
their property could be partially restored to its former condition ; 
but after the removal of the army, some felt the effects of it more 
than others. The huts which had been erected for the use of the 
army remained on the premises after their departure, and the 



96 The History of Valley Forge 

rails forming the pickets were left there. As noticed in a former 
communication, the huts and pickets were principally on the farms 
of Mordecai Moore and David Stephens ; the rails left in the pick- 
ets answered for fencing, and the timber of which the huts were 
constructed answered for purpose of fuel and rail. These two 
men had suffered in common with others the loss of timber and 
the destruction of fences, but owing to the circumstances of the 
huts and pickets being left on their premises, they did not feel 
the loss of their timber to so great an extent as some others. The 
farms of Thomas Waters, Joseph Walker, Benjamin Jones, John 
Bean and others lying on the southeast of the encampment being 
further from the main body of the army, I have understood suf- 
fered not so severely from the effects of the encampment, as the 
owners of the land had timber land in other places that escaped 
the ravages of the army, so they had to supply them with fencing 
and fuel. But this was not the case with my grandfather, he had 
none of these means to resort to. His only dependence for fuel 
was the few huts that were left standing on his premises. Unlike 
some others, he had no timber land that escaped destruction to 
resort to for fencing; he was thus placed under the necessity of 
purchasing and hauling from a considerable distance rails to en- 
close his land, and also buy all the horses and a great deal of 
other stock for conducting farming operations, and having in 
common with others, lost the greater part of his movable property 
and household goods during the encampment, particularly in the 
early part of it, as mentioned in former communications. All 
these things had to be provided for the family, which required 
much expense and labor, so that his situation was truly a very 
trying one, from the effects of which he had never fully recovered 
during the remainder of his days. It is true he received from the 
govermrient some remuneration for the damages sustained, but it 
was in Continental money, which soon depreciated and was 
eventually repudiated, so that the whole may be said to have ended 
in a total loss. 

THE GERMAN PHYSICIAN AND THE RIDING HORSE 

I niay here mention without too much digression a circum- 
stance that shows how little regard was paid to the rights of an- 
other in regard to property, by some of the persons connected 
with the army. Aly grandfather in the early part of the campaign 
had all his horses taken from him except one, a favorite riding 
horse Avhicli he had occasion to use frequently, as he was much 
engaged both in the camp and the surrounding country as a sur- 
geon, or healer of fractures, ulcers of various kinds, dislocations 
and other similar maladies and casualties. On this account this 
horse was never taken or used by any of the officers or men. On 
the morning of the departure of the army, a German physician, 



The History of Valley Forge 97 

who had spent a considerable portion of time with Dubryson, 
took the horse by stealth, called at a house near the place, bor- 
rowed a saddle, and informed the person he obtained it of, that 
he had borrowed the horse of Doctor Stephens (as he called him) 
to ride to the ferry at Philadelphia, and would return with him in 
the evening or the morning of the following day. He never re- 
turned with horse or saddle, and thus my grandfather's last horse 
was taken from him. 

The peculiar situation of the country at this time, and the 
losses the people had sustained continued to oppress them not only 
during the remainder of the war but for several years after, so 
that little progress was made by many of them to resuscitate their 
desolated farms, and the iron manufacturing business at Valley 
Forge was during the residue of the war suspended. The owners 
of the farms thus laid waste generally continued to reside upon 
them during the remainder of the war. David Stephens, soon 
after the removal of the army, with his wife and some other 
branches of the family, moved to Nantmeal, in Chester county, 
and continued there some years. The mansion that had been 
occupied by Colonel Dewees at Valley Forge, having been burned, 
he with his family removed to a house of his father-in-law in the 
Valley, the place where Gen. Mifflin had been quartered, at which 
place he continued to reside for several years, except a small por- 
tion of time that he resided in Philadelphia. As I shall take some 
notice of the most of these persons in a future communication, I 
shall take no further notice of them at present. 

Having noticed many of the principal events of that period in 
the history of our country, that transpired in the neighborhood of 
the Valle)^ Forge during that interesting and deeply trying time, 
though there are yet many things that might be related, I must 
omit them, as time and many pressing engagements preclude my 
entering more fully into the subject. I promised my readers in 
the commencement of the work, to carry it on from its early set- 
tlement to the present time (1850). I shall, therefore, now dis- 
miss the consideration of any matters connected with the war of 
the Revolution, or the campaign at Valley Forge, which have al- 
ready claimed so much of your attention, only as they may occa- 
sionally come in future numbers by way of reference, and in my 
future letters I shall turn from the gloomy picture of things, from 
the "lines and tented fields," to that period of time when peace 
with her olive branch had returned to our borders, when the de- 
structive sword had been exchanged for the ploughshare, and 
danger and destruction no longer hovered around us. When the 
Valley Forge had been rebuilt, and instead of confused noise of 
the camp being heard in its borders, was heard afresh the noise of 
the hammer in the manufacturing of iron, the most valuable and 
useful of all mineral substances, when the farms in that fair por- 



98 The History of Valley Forge 

tion of country, surrounding it on every side, no longer lay waste 
and unproductive, but through the hand of industry and the 
blessings of peace, they were again restored, the waste places 
enclosed, and the fields clothed with plenty for the sustenance of 
man and beast. 

In my next, I shall commence an account of the rebuilding of 
the Valley Forge, the revival of business at the place, and confin- 
ing myself exclusively to the original estate as it was at the time 
of the conclusion of the war, notice its different owners, the 
changes of manufacturing business at different periods, the im- 
provements it has undergone, its present state, and many other 
things in connection with the place, the most of which have oc- 
curred since my time, and will be generally furnished from actual 
knowledge and observation. 



The History of Valley Forge 99 



1 


1 



LETTER XXI 

SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. THE FORGE RELIT. 

N THIS commuication I propose giving an account 
of the Valley Forge from the termination of the war 
down to the present time, confining myself as much 
as possible to the Valley Forge tract of land as it was 
held at that time, and shall endeavor to present it in 
as connected a manner as it will admit of. About the time alluded 
to, another forge was built considerably lower down the stream 
than the former one that was burned by the British. The present 
(1850) cotton factory covers the site of the forge last erected. It 
stood there and was used as a tilt mill until the year 1814. A 
slitting and rolling mill were erected a few years after the forge, 
on the opposite side of the stream, in Chester county. These 
buildings were erected by William Dewees, David Potts and 
Isaac Potts. The former commenced the manufactory of bar 
iron, and the place again began to assume the prospect of busi- 
ness being revived. Neither of the others was engaged at that 
time with him as partners in the manufacturing business. David 
Potts residing in the city of Philadelphia, where he kept an iron 
store; and Isaac Potts lived at headquarters — he having the grist 
mill at the place. 

William Dewees, who was very aristocratic, and who moved 
in a style far above his means to support, in a few years failed, 
was sold out by the sheriff, which closed his business at the place, 
and ended his connection with the family. About the year 1792, 
an assessment of the damage done to the Valley Forge estate by 
the burning of the different buildings by the enemy, was taken by 
John Bartholemew and John Davis ; and if I recollect right, the 
amount of valuation was over twelve thousand dollars. William 
Dewees petitioned Congress at that time for damages he had sus- 
tained on the occasion ; but owing to the low state of the national 
treasury at the time, it was not granted. He kept a duplicate of 
the documents prepared on the occasion, but nothing further was 
done by him in the business in his life time. The sequel of his 
life I shall not pursue more than to say that it was marked by a 
sad reverse of fortune, and he ended his days at an advanced age, 
near the place in the year 1809. Of the claim I shall speak more 
in some future number. 

The business of the Forge and other iron works, after the 
failure of William Dewees, was for a few years carried on by 



lOO The History of Valley Forge 

Isaac Potts, during which time a division of the property took 
place — David Potts taking the iron works and all the land in 
Chester and Montgomery, lying on the south side of Nutt's road 
and the Gulf road, and a small part on the north side of the Gulf 
road in Montgomery, on which the mansion house and some other 
buildings had been erected, having the privilege of a road or 
passage from the Gulf road to the river Schulykill and a landing 
thereon forever, for all articles, flour and wheat and other grain 
excepted, it being understood between them that no grist or other 
mill for manufacturing or grinding flour or grain of any kind 
should be erected on any part of the estate of David Potts. Isaac 
Potts took the mill and farm on which headquarters stood, lying 
on the Schuylkill, with the privilege of using the above road or 
passage to the Gulf road forever, for all articles, iron and charcoal 
manufactured on the premises only excepted, it being likewise un- 
derstood that no works of any kind for the manufacture of iron 
should be erected on the place. The prohibitions have been ob- 
served by all subsequent owners of any part of either estate, a 
clause to that effect being inserted in the deeds of all purchasers 
since that time, at least all I have ever written or have had in my 
possession. 

THE HEADQUARTERS AFTER THE WAR 

As the headquarters of Washington is the most noted place 
in the vicinity, I shall now proceed with an account of them, de- 
tached from any other matter. Isaac Potts continued to reside 
there, some time after the division of the property. About 1794, 
if my memory serves me correctly, he sold the property to Jacob 
Paul of Germantown, in whose family it remained till 1826; it 
then belonged to his son, Joseph Paul. It was then purchased by 
an association of people who entertained the visionary idea of 
establishing a community of mutual interests at the place, on the 
principles of Robert Owen, of New Lanark, in Scotland. The 
existence of this project, if it ever existed at all except in imagi- 
nation or theory, was very brief. The measure proved a complete 
failure, and the property was taken by James Jones, one of the 
number, and the only wealthy person among them, who, about two 
years after removed to the place, and resided in the mansion occu- 
pied as headquarters until his death, which occurred about ten 
years ago (1840) at an advanced age. His family still (1850) 
resides there. A few years since the old mill, erected prior to the 
Revolution, and which had escaped the ravages of that period, 
was destroyed by fire, communicated by sparks from the locomo- 
tive on the Reading Railroad, that passes near it. The mansion 
is still standing, having undergone very little alteration. It has 
been often visited by strangers and others, on account of its con- 
nection with the Revolution, some of whom I have conducted 



The History of Valley Forge ioi 

there; and I have often pointed out the place to travelers who 
have been passing on the public road. There are yet some things 
remaining about the building to remind the visitors of that inter- 
esting period, particularly the secret doors that were planned for 
the Commander-in-chief to effect an escape in case of an emerg- 
ency. 

THE DISPOSITION OF THE POTTS ESTATE 

I shall now proceed to give an account of that part of the estate 
owned by David Potts. Shortly after the division of the prop- 
erty, he removed to reside there. He soon quit the manufactory 
of bar iron and the rolling and slitting of iron, and the tilt ham- 
mer was substituted instead. While he abode there, he disposed 
of some parts of it lying in Chester county, the greater part of 
his land being there. At the time of his death, he owned more 
than eight hundred acres of land, more than seven hundred of it 
being woodland, young and thrifty, having nearly all grown up 
since the Revolution. He died in the year 1798, and the property 
was held by some of his family until the year 1806, the business 
being conducted by his son-in-law, Reese Brooke, and his son, 
James Potts. In that year it was sold to Ralph Peacock of Phila- 
deluhia, who held it and conducted the business there between' 
two and three years, when he disposed of it to Jacob Vodges of 
Philadelphia, who took possession of it sometime during the 
summer of 1802 (There is some discrepancy here. — Ed.) and 
held it about six years. From the death of David Potts until pur- 
chased by Jacob Vodges, no part of the real estate had been sold, 
except a lot of about fourteen acres, by the heirs of David Potts. 
During the time it was held by Jacob Vodges, some of the wood- 
land in Montgomery county was sold off in lots to different per- 
sons ; and five hundred acres of it in Chester county was sold to 
John Conard and Joseph Barnes, the former of Germantown, the 
latter of Philadelphia, the latter at the time Prothonotary of the 
Supreme Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and since 
Judge of the District Court of Philadelphia, the former at the time 
Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of the city and county of 
Philadelphia, subsequently a member of the Fifteenth Congress, 
Prothonotary of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (in the 
room of Mr. Barnes), and Marshal of the Eastern District of the 
State of Pennsylvania. He now resides in Elkton, in the State of 
Maryland. His native place was in this county (Bucks), about 
three miles from Doylestown. They purchased it upon specula- 
tion, and soon after sold about four hundred acres of it off in lots 
of from three to seven acres, the remainder to a person in the 
neighborhood, thus placing the original tract at that time in the 
hands of a great many different owners, and this is the situation 
it is now placed in, and in all probability will always remain so, as 



I02 The History of Valley Forge 

it all consists of superior chestnut timber land, purchased by 
wealthy farmers in many parts of the county, for the purpose of 
furnishing them with rail timber. I shall dwell no longer on that 
part of the property. 

About the commencement of the year 1814, he sold the greater 
part of the residue of the estate, with all the water power and im- 
provements lying on both sides of the Valley creek, reserving 
about thirty acres in Chester and about fifty in Montgomery 
county, to John Rogers, of the firm of Rogers and Brothers, 
hardware merchants in Philadelphia. 

It would seem that the purchase by Jacob Vodges was an 
unprofitable one, for shortly after disposing of all except the part 
reserved above, and after struggling under adverse circumstances 
during all the time he held it, he had ultimately to give up to 
assignees, who disposed of the remainder of it to different people. 
I shall now in my further description of it, limit myself to the 
part purchased by John Rogers. He took possession of it early 
in the year 1814, and immediately in connection with Joshua Mar- 
lin, commenced the erection of commodious buildings, for the 
manufacture of various kinds of domestic hardware; but before 
they were completed peace took place between this country and 
Great Britain, which checked the spirit and progress of the manu- 
facturing business, and decreased the value of property, and 
brought on a languishing state of afifairs at the place. In my next 
I shall resume the subject, as I shall not be able to finish in this. 



The History of Valley Forge 103 




LETTER XXII 

HE conclusion of my last letter informed my readers 
of the languishing state of things at the place 
brought about by the check given to manufactories 
by peace being made with England. The original 
operations that had been carried on at the place after 
faUing into the hands of John Rogers were utterly given up ; and 
a large amount of capital had been expended in order to com- 
mence the manufactory of various articles of iron ware, both in 
cast and wrought iron, which, previous to the war, we had de- 
pended upon foreign nations for a supply, and which could at that 
time be imported at a much lower rate than they could be made in 
the country, even under the most favorable circumstances of our 
then infant manufactures, prevented it being used for the purpose 
he had first intended. This led to other schemes and operations 
for several years, such as the manufacture of shovels, spades, 
hoes, mill, cross-cut, pit, boat-builder's and circular saws, some 
branches of which proved abortive, while some others, although 
the owner and proprietor found it a losing concern, yet some 
others that were associated with him, have since found a source 
of profit arising from them, and have acquired fortunes. 

Things continued in this fluctuating state at the place until the 
commencenment of the year 1821, when they settled on a more 
permanent basis. Brooke Evans of the city of Philadelphia, hav- 
ing obtained from the general government a contract to make ten 
thousand stand of arms, took a lease on that part of the property 
on the west side of the Valley Creek, in Chester county, and an 
armory was erected there on the site of the old stilling mill, and 
operations soon commenced in that line. In the fall of the same 
year, the manufacture of domestic hardware having ceased, the 
factory and all the buildings attached to it, on the south side of 
the Gulf road, in the county of Montgomery, were taken by 
Hugh Wagstaff of Delaware county, for the purpose of manufac- 
turing cotton, and soon put into successful operation. The estab- 
lishment of these factories gave renewed vigor to the place. An 
influx of persons to those already there, was soon added, and the 
place soon began to increase, and an additional number of houses 
was soon erected, and two stores opened in the village. The 
death of Hugh Wagstaff, which took place in 1823, checked the 
steady operation of the cotton business, but it soon assumed its 
usual vigor, and for more than two years after that event, it was 



I04 The History of Valley Forge 

carried on by John Rogers himself, who removed from the city, 
and took up his residence at Valley Forge. Toward the close of 
the year 1825, the whole of Valley Forge estate was professed to 
be purchased by the aforesaid community for the sum of sixty- 
five thousand dollars, and at the same time they contracted for 
other properties in the vicinity, to the amount of seventeen thou- 
sand more ; but they soon found it much easier to purchase than 
to comply with the conditions on which they professed to pur- 
chase. It soon fell to nought, and the whole property, except 
that comprising the estate known as Headquarters, which has been 
noticed, was taken back again. John Rogers continued after this 
short intermission to reside there for several years. He then dis- 
posed of the property to a person named Jason Waters from some 
one of the New England states, who after residing there a few 
years and the business declining from various causes, he became 
embarrassed and the property was sold by the sheriff to Charles 
Rogers, a nephew of John Rogers. The manufacturing business, 
I think, is now (1850) conducted by an Englishman named 
Ogden. Charles Rogers now resides there, and being a man of 
great wealth, and disposed to improve the property, it is now in a 
fair way of improving in appearance and prosperity. Many new 
and substantial buildings have been erected by him ; among them, 
on a very elevated point on the Rear Line Hill, is an observatory, 
furnished with a large telescope, from which an extended view of 
the surrounding country, in every direction, may be enjoyed, af- 
fording to the observer a very beautiful and diversified prospect 
of the most lovely and interesting scenery in its native grandeur, 
highly cultivated farms, splendid mansions and commodious farm 
houses, neat cottages and handsome villages, the navigable river, 
the railroad thronged with cars, beautiful streams, hills and dales, 
"fountains and fresh shades" in abundance, till observation is 
satisfied in passing 

"From house to house, and hill to hill, 
And contemplation has her fill." 

OTHER LAND WEST OF THE CREEK 

Having now completed the account of that part of the original 
tract of the Valley Forge estate that was held by the Potts family 
at the time of the encampment, I shall next proceed to notice a 
portion of country lying on the western side of the Valley creek, 
the most of it embraced in the lines. The most of this at the time 
of the Revolution belonged to David Potts, and is included in the 
general description of his property already given. The rest of it 
was never remarkable for any occurrances during the war that I 
have ever heard mentioned, neither do I remember to have heard 
of any of the general officers being quartered in that section. The 
land is rather hilly and broken, though well watered and having 



The History of Valley Forge 105 

some excellent springs. The quality of the soil is good, and hav- 
ing been mostly held by industrious farmers, they have quietly 
pursued their peaceful pursuits, the most of them on a limited 
scale. It was supposed until lately to possess very few, if any, 
inducements for speculators to enter upon it, as it was not known 
to contain any valuable mineral substances beneath its surface. 
In my early days I have heard it said that bituminous coal existed 
in the hills in that region, and tales were related of its being known 
by Indians. If there be any, it has never yet been discovered, 
and probably never Vvdll, as geologists never found anything to 
indicate its existence in that region. 

AN INDIAN TALE 

Among the Indian tales, I have heard one so directly related, 
that I shall give it a place here. Frederick Geerhart, mentioned 
in a former letter, at whose house a general provision store or 
depository for the use of the army was established, was a black- 
smith by trade, and resided there many years previous to the war, 
and while some Indians continued to dwell in that part of the 
country. On one occasion an Indian called upon him to have 
some repairs done to his gun. Not having any coal on hand, he 
told him he could not do it, assigning that as a reason. The In- 
dian told him that if he would let him have a bag, he would soon 
procure him some. Being furnished with one, he started off in 
a southeasterly direction, and returned in a short time with about 
a bushel of bituminous coal, with which he repaired the gun. The 
coal was said to be of the same nature and kind of the far famed 
Virginia coal, formerly so extensively used by blacksmiths. Upon 
inquiry where he obtained it, and offering him a powerful induce- 
ment (a bottle of rum) to show the place, he consented, and 
took Geerhart to a hole on a hillside, as he used to relate it, not 
three miles from his house, where the Indian uncovered an open- 
ing in the ground of sufficient dimensions to admit a full grown 
person to crawl in. Upon entering a few feet in the ground, coal 
was found in abundance. Wood was at that time very plenty, and 
the owner of the land on which it was found, and of whom Geer- 
hart claimed a fee for showing him the place, said that he did not 
wish its existence on his property to be known, as he would have 
nothing to do with it himself, or dispose of it to any other person 
for the purpose of mining it. The place, if any, has therefore 
remained a secret. Geerhart soon after the close of the war, re- 
moved to the western part of the state of New York, and in a 
few years died there. My father, to whom he related the ac- 
count and from whom I received it, never placed full confidence 
in it. In the year 1830, when the mania for speculation in coal 
lands, particularly in Schuylkill county, raged to so great an ex- 
tent, these legendary tales concerning it were again revived, and a 



io6 The History of Valley Forge 

few persons, supposing it to exist on their land, commenced 
searching for it, but all to no profitable purpose — no traces of it 
were ever discovered, and they soon relinquished the pursuit. 

Other discoveries have been made in that section of country; 
and some small manufacturing establishments have been com- 
menced, which taken in connection with the Reading Railroad and 
the Schuylkill navigation, have recently considerably altered the 
state of things among them. Of these things I shall speak more 
fully in my next letter, and also give some account of a portion 
of country hang on the eastern side of the river, immediately 
opposite the Valley Forge estate, and the section of country I 
have last alluded to, as its contiguity to the encampment ground 
justly entitles it to a place in these communications. 



The History of Valley Forge 107 




LETTER XXIIl 
ACROSS THE RIVER 

N THE eastern side of the Schuylkill, and immedi- 
ately opposite the encampment ground, is a portion of 
country which on account of its contiguity to the 
place, and its connection with it, particularly after the 
=__ construction of Sullivan's Bridge, I shall give a place 
in these narratives, as promised at the close of my last letter. 

The river at Headquarters makes a great bend. A large tract 
of land directly opposite the place, bounded on the south and east 
by the river, at the time of the Revolution, and for many years 
after, belonged to the Pauling family ; and if I mistake not it was 
first patented by Henry Pauling, the original ancestor of the fam- 
ily, who emigrated to this Province at a very early period of the 
proprietary government. At the time of the Revolution it be- 
longed to Henry Pauling, the grandfather of Levi Pauling, men- 
tioned in a former letter, who then lived m a mansion near Paul- 
ing's Bridge, the same one mentioned in my fifth letter, where my 
mother arrived at midnight, when returning home from her jour- 
ney to hunt Jehu. New and commodious buildings had also been 
erected on the property, immediately opposite Headquarters, and 
were occupied by Henry Pauling, Esq. These two houses i 
have understood were the resort of many officers during the time 
of the encampment ; and it is more than probable that some gen- 
eral officers were quartered there; if so, I know not who they 
were, not having in proper time availed myself of correct infor- 
mation on the subject. It is a rich alluvial soil, almost impercept- 
ibly rising from the river; and for beauty of situation and fertility 
of soil, is exceeded by none that I know of, lying on either side 
of the river. Some of the land was held by members of the fam- 
ily till very lately; the last of it was sold since the death of Wil- 
liam Pauling, the last surviving son of Henry Pauling, Esq., to 
the Wetherills, druggists and manufacturers of white lead, m 
Philadelphia, who have also at different times smce the com- 
mencement of the war with Great Britain m 1812, Purchased 
large tracts of valuable land in the neighborhood, of which i 
shall now proceed to give a more general notice, as far as my 
knowledge extends of their possessions. 

When I removed from that part of the country, a little mor^ 
than twenty-two years ago, the family of Wetherills owned all 
the land lying on the east side of the river Schuylkill, commencing 



io8 The History of Valley Forge 

about a mile below Valley Forge, and extended up the same to 
the mouth of the Perkiomen Creek — it being more than two miles 
in extent on the river, excepting the land just mentioned, that then 
belonged to William Pauling (since purchased by them) and a 
farm belonging to John Shearer, Esq., and still held by him. 
Since owned by them, all the property has been much improved by 
the erection of suitable and commodious buildings of various 
kinds, adapted to and necessary for the comfortable accommoda- 
tion and proper management of large and highly productive farms. 
It may also be noticed, that they had purchased a large and valu- 
able farm on the western side of the Perkiomen Creek, formerly 
the property of Thomas Vanderslice. In addition to the build- 
ings and improvements just mentioned, they have erected splen- 
did edifices for private summer residences on some of the prop- 
erties. These things have much improved the appearance of that 
part of the country ; and the most of them being placed in elevated 
situations, can be seen with advantage from many places of the 
encampment ground ; and when viewed from this distance, and 
taken in connection with the beautiful scenery, and the variegated 
landscape, by which it is on all sides accompanied, renders the 
prospect extremely beautiful and picturesque. 

I shall now give some notice concerning some valuable mineral 
substances, supposed to exist in the bowels of the earth, in that 
section of country. It is now near fifty years since a lead mine 
was opened on or near the Perkiomen, near a place now called 
Shannonville. It has been since then worked at various times,, 
and by different persons and companies ; but I never heard of it 
being very lucrative, as they all in succession abandoned it previ- 
ous to the year 1826. About the commencement of that year a 
person from Cornwall, England, named Sheffield, who professed 
to have large experience in the business of mining, commenced 
working them, and was very confident and sanguine of success in 
the undertaking. He continued business but a short time, and 
then like his predecessors gave it up. I do not know whether the 
Wetherills have purchased this property or not ; neither do I know 
whether the business of mining is carried on there at present or 
not. Recently copper has been discovered in many places, on 
both sides of the Schuylkill, in the vicinity of the Valley Forge ; 
and considerable business has been done in making preparation 
for commencing operations in mining for that substance — a more 
full account of which will be given in some future numbers. 

I hope I may be excused if I encroach upon the time and 
patience of some of my readers, by giving a more general descrip- 
tion of the property belonging to the Wetherills, lying farther 
down the river, and likewise relating some other accounts in con- 
nection with it. It commences on the river, and extends in a 
northwesterly direction about three-fourths of a mile. There is a 



The History of Valley Forge 109 

gradual ascent from the river to the main buildings, which are 
erected on the most elevated part of the premises, about two hun- 
dred feet above the stream, the mansion fronting upon it. From 
the rear of the house, the ground gradually descends toward the 
Perkiomen. I speak of the property as it was the last time I 
was there, about twenty-four years ago. From this place, particu- 
larly about the mansion, one of the most beautiful prospects is 
afforded to the observer of the surrounding country, that it is 
possible to conceive. Here may be viewed, not only the greater 
part of the country occupied as the encampment ground, but in 
every direction as far as the sight extends, can be enjoyed a view 
calculated to charm and please. Those who have visited Prospect 
Hill on the Neshaminy, on the road from Doylestown to Norris- 
town, may form some idea of it. 

This property during the time of the Revolution, and while the 
army was encamped at Valley Forge, belonged to a person named 
James Vaux, who then resided there. It is remarkable for a 
circumstance that occurred there, during the time that he men- 
tioned to me, a short time before his death. He said two distm- 
guished persons were guests at his table on the same day — Gen- 
eral Washington and General Howe — the former took breakfast 
with him ; and the latter, supper. This occurred the day after the 
engagement was to have taken place at the White Horse, about 
two miles from Goshen Meetinghouse, in Chester county, but was 
prevented by a heavy fall of rain during the night previous. 
Those who may have read the history of the Revolutionary War, 
may remember the account. I could write much concerning that, 
event, as I have heard it related by my father, who was one of the 
number who experienced the effects of it ; but as it does not prop- 
erly belong to these narratives, I shall at this time omit it. But 
to return to my story. He also informed me that they both lodged 
at his house— the one on the night previous to his taking breakfast 
with him, the other on the night subsequent to his taking supper. 
During the war he maintained as nearly as possible a strictly 
neutral position, he being a member of the Society of Friends, 
and his hospitable mansion was open to both contending powers. 
He sold the property and removed to the city of Philadelphia, 
where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life,, 
continuing a steadfast member of the religious society to which 
he was attached, and always exercised his right of suffrage. He 
died at an advanced age, about twenty-four years ago. Some of 
his connections still reside in the city, one of whom a few years 
since was Recorder of the city. 

I do not know to whom James Vaux sold the property. When 
I first remember it, it then belonged to a wealthy Englishman 
named William Bakewell, the person by whom the celebrated 
Bakewell sheep were first introduced into this country, he import- 



no The History of Valley Forge 

ing them from the farm of his brother in England. He died at 
the place in the year 1820. His family removed to Kentucky 
shortly after, where one of his daughters had previously resided 
several years, having married Joseph D. Audubon, the celebrated 
ornithologist, universally known in literary circles. 

In shall conclude by mentioning that an English traveler 
named Robert Sutcliffe, who spent a considerable portion of time 
in this country, in the years 1804-5 and 6, and kept a narrative of 
his journey, has given a very graphic description of this property;, 
but as only the initials of the owner's name are given, a stranger 
would not know it was the same property — though I do not think 
the picture is much too highly painted. He (Robert Sutcliffe) 
speaks of accompanying M. R., meaning Matthew Roberts (a 
brother of the Honorable Jonathan Roberts), to his cousin, W. 
B.'s, meaning William Bakewell, and proceeds to pass high encon- 
iums upon the farm and appurtenances; should any of my read- 
ers see the work, they will there find it more fully described. I 
might say much more concerning the other places in the parts 
lying on the eastern side of the river, particularly the Norris 
Manor, the most of which is still held by branches of the family; 
but as the most of them, though equally as near the Valley Forge 
as some as will hereafter be described, yet not being embraced 
in the lines of the encampment to proceed further with these 
would exceed the the limits of my original intention. 

In my next I shall proceed to that portion of the country lying 
around Valley Forge, on the east side of the Valley Creek, where 
the different officers mentioned were quartered. 



The History of Valley Forge hi 




LETTER XXIV 

EAST OF THE VALLEY CREEK 

N THIS I shall commence giving a description of that 
section of country in Chester and Montgomery coun- 
ties lying within the limits of the encampment and 
immediately in their vicinity, where the general 
officers mentioned in my former letters were quar- 
tered. In so doing I shall refer to the persons who owned or oc- 
cupied them at the time of the encampment, and also have refer- 
ence to some of their different owners since that period, and the 
owners of them at the present time, together with some remarks 
and observations concerning some of the changes they have since 
passed through, many of which I shall state from actual knowl- 
edge, they having mostly taken place since my recollection, partic- 
ularly the time of the death of the most of the owners and occu- 
pants of the places at the time of the Revolution. 

THE FARM OF JOHN BROWN 

In the first place I shall commence with those on the south- 
western boundary, which, at the time, belonged to John Brown, 
Samuel Havard, John Havard and Samuel Richards. These all 
live on the south side of the Baptist road, except a portion of the 
land then belonging to John Brown. At his house Gen. Maxwell 
was quartered, and on a part of the estate some of the breastworks 
were thrown up, and a part of it still remains in a tolerably good 
state of preservation. There were also erected on this property, 
several forts, the most of which are still remaining visible, and 
have undergone but little alteration since that time, as they were 
all on land that has never been cultivated, having been kept for a 
woodland. These remains of the Revolution are frequently vis- 
ited by persons who have it within their power and feel an inter- 
est in these things. He continued to reside there the remainder 
of his days. His farm was large and very productive, being in 
the rich Valley of Chester county. By strict economy and per- 
severing industry, he became very wealthy, lived to an old age, 
and died in the year 1823. The farm previous to his death had 
been divided into two farms, both at this time sufficiently large. 
They are now owned, the original mansion place by his daughter, 
the other by his daughter-in-law, widow of his only son. It be- 
longs to her during her life time, and then descends to her chil- 



112 The History of Valley Forge 

dren. There is now none of his male descendants left of the same 
name. 

THE FARM OF SAMUEL HAVARD 

Lafayette was quartered at the house of Samuel Havard. 
This farm joined John Brown's on the south, and lay a little be- 
yond the lines of the encampment. It was held by him during 
his life time. He was a very wealthy man, lived and died un- 
married. His death occurred in the year 1808, leaving all the 
property, with a very small exception, both real and personal, to 
a grandson of his brother. This caused much dissatisfaction . 
among other and nearer relations of his, and after many years 
and much money were spent in litigation, the will was finally 
established, and the legatee placed in peaceable possession of the 
property. He soon after relinqueished his profession as a physi- 
cian in which he was previously fast rising into eminence, and 
entered into a career of land speculation, which soon dissipated 
the property, and the real estate was sold to John Sharpless of 
Delaware county, who held it for several years, being occupied by 
his son-in-law. Since the death of John Sharpless the property 
was sold. It is now owned by John Worthington and David Wil- 
son. It is divided into two farms, each containing more than 
eighty acres. John Worthington occupied the farm and mansion 
house in which Lafayette resided. The house having, the last 
time I saw it, undergone but very little change-, since that time. 

THE FARM OF JOHN HAVARD 

The farm of John Havard, at whose house Knox was quar- 
tered, adjoining the latter one, is situated on the State road, from 
New Hope to the Maryland line, and extends towards the Valley 
Forge, on both sides of the Baptist road. That portion lying on 
the northeast of the latter road was in the lines of the encamp- 
ment, upon which many lines are still visible. He died before my 
time, and I never remember to have understood the time. He 
left one daughter. She married a man named William Davis. 
They lived during their life times upon it. Their deaths occurred 
within five weeks of each other; not quite two years ago. Some 
of their children still reside there and own the property. The 
eastern extremity of this place was the extent of the picket guard 
in that direction. The remains of a chimney stood there for 
many years after, even since my remembrance, it was called the 
stone picket, and it is sometimes designated by that name even at 
this time, when all traces of it are obliterated. William Davis at 
the time of his death, was about eighty-two years of age, being 
one of the last survivors of that period, who retained a lively rec- 
ollection of the time of the encampment. He possessed a good 



The History of Valley Forge 113 

memory, and retained his bodily and mental powers, to the close 
of life. I regret not having availed myself of more information 
that he might have given me on these subjects. I may, at this 
place, notice an account he gave me about twenty-six years ago, 
which exhibits acute observation and strength of memory. He 
was at work in his barn, and observed a person at some distance, 
coming toward the house. He told some persons who were en- 
gaged with him, that he, calling him at the same time by his name, 
was a person who was a sergeant in the army, and who used to be 
at his father's during the Revolution, and whom he had not seen 
since that time. This was correct. He had, after a lapse of 
nearly half a century, returned to the place to seek for some per- 
son to enable him to prove his services in the army, to entitle him 
to a pension. 

RICHARDS AND JONES FARMS 

The farms of Samuel Richards and Samuel Jones, lying on 
the southeast of the last described one, I shall now take some 
notice of, having, since I commenced this letter, received some 
.additional information concerning them. As noticed in a former 
letter, Woodford and Scott were quartered at these places. I 
have since understood that the residence of Samuel Jones was not 
at the place now occupied as Kendalt's tavern, on the State road ; 
but the next farm above Samuel Richard's, in the Valley. The 
place, now Kendalt's, was, at the time of the encampment, occu- 
pied by a man named Anthony Moore, but who removed from the 
place shortly after, and before the close of the war, it was the 
residence of a person of the name of Samuel Jones, a relative of 
the former mentioned one. I have further learned that no officers 
were quartered, for any length of time, at Anthony Moore's. 

Before proceeding to a further description of them, I will 
mention that I yesterday called on an old friend and relation, the 
venerable Lewis Walker of the city of Philadelphia, now near 
•eighty-five years of age, whom I had not seen for near twenty 
years, and found him in possession of his mental and bodily pow- 
ders, and actively engaged in his mercantile business. It was at his 
father's that Gen. Wayne was quartered, and he was at that time, 
more than ten years of age. From him I obtained the foregoing 
information, in addition to much other, which I shall insert in 
future numbers. 

The farm, or rather farms, of Samuel Jones, for there were 
two of' them — the one of them occupied by him at the time, the 
■other by Jacob Fricke — are situated in the Great Valley. I do 
not know at what time he died. He left two sons, Enoch and 
Nathaniel, to whom the property descended. The farm of Enoch 
Jones, the place where Scott was quartered, has, since his death, 
.been sold, and none of his descendants are now in possession of 



114 The History of Valley Forge 

any part of it. The other one, I think, is still all held by descend- 
ants of Nathaniel Jones. In my conversation with Lewis Walker, 
he also informed me that, in addition to the general officers quar- 
tered at the diti'erent places, that in most instances, the field of- 
ficers attached to the divisions and brigades, were mostly with 
them in their quarters. I shall give a full account of the staff 
attached to Gen. Wayne's brigade, in my next, as I received it 
from Lewis Walker. 

The farm of Samuel Richards has, since his death, passed into 
several ditt"erent hands. It was a highly productive farm, and 
still remains so. Samuel Richards died either during or soon 
after the Revolution. The property was held by some of his 
children and descendants, until the year 1815; since then it has 
been successively owned by Samuel Barry and Jonathan Phillips. 
It now belongs to some of the descendants of Jonathan Phillips. 
It has recently undergone many improvements in buildings and 
cultivation of soil. 

In my next I shall have some occasion to make some addition 
to some former accounts, having received the information in the 
manner just related, and as they contain reminscences of the 
period of the encampment at ^'alley Forge, I hope that the intro- 
duction of them at this period of my narration, will not be looked 
upon as too great a digression in the order of time and place, in 
their arrangement. 



The History of Valley Forge 115 




LETTER XXV 

FARM OF JOHN BEAVER 

HE FARM of John Beaver was situated on the north- 
east of the farms of John Havard and John Brown. 
As noticed in my former letter, John Brown died 
about the time of the army encamping at the place; 
some officers were quartered for a short time at the 
place, but none permanently. Generals Poor and Pulaski, I have 
understood, were among the number. The latter was not station- 
ary here. During the time he was connected with the cavalry, 
and they were mostly in the neighborhood of Trenton, in New 
Jersey. This property has been owned by Rev. William Currie, 
one of the King's chaplains, previously to the Revolution; but 
who, upon the war of the Revolution, was deprived of the privi- 
lege of officiating in that capacity, on account of his adherence to 
the royal cause. After disposing of this estate, he purchased an- 
other lying on the west side of the Valley Creek adjoining the Val- 
ley Forge estate, where he resided the remainder of his days. He 
lived to a very great age, and died since my recollection, I think in 
the year 1803, some of his descendants still occupying the prop- 
erty. It now belongs to Joseph R. Walker, his great grandson, 
and his mother, now near eighty years of age, resides with him. 
Levi Walker also informed me that General Stirling, a part of the 
time of the encampment, was quartered at this place; and that 
General Lee, the latter part of the time, was quartered at the house 
of David Havard, on the farm adjoining it on the southeast. 
Many of the descendants of Rev. William Currie still reside in 
that and other parts of the country and in the city of Philadelphia. 
But to return to the farm of John Beaver. The most of it 
fell into the possession of his son, Devault Beaver, who, possess- 
ing the thrift, industry and economy, so peculiar to that useful and 
highly respectable portion of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, the 
German farmer, he not only improved the fertility of the soil, but 
erected large, good and substantial buildings upon it; and by 
making additions to the original estate at different times, it be- 
came, in his life time, celebrated as one of the largest and most 
productive, as well as highly improved, farms in that section of 
country, a position it still continues to hold. He continued to 
reside upon it, increasing in wealth and prosperity, until his death, 
in the fall of 1837, in the eighty-second year of his age, leaving 
many descendants. Some of his sons have since deceased; the 



ii6 The History of \'allev Forge 

survivors of them are now engaged in the honorable employment 
of practical farmers. The property is now owned by his son-in- 
law. 

FARMS OF JOSEPH WALKER 

The farms of Joseph Walker will next claim our attention. 
At that time they consisted of two farms. The original mansion 
occupied by him is still standing. This farm was on the south- 
west of the place ; the one occupied by his son, Isaac Walker, on 
the northeast. ' The whole tract of land contained more than three 
hundred acres, and is still held by the family. Its present owners 
are Joseph Walker, son of Isaac Walker, and Richard C. Walker 
and' William Walker, sons of Thomas Walker. Richard C. 
Walker occupies the original mansion; and on the southeastern 
extremity of it, he has erected a small village, where several 
branches^ of mechanical business are conducted. It was here that 
Wayne was quartered. At the place where Joseph Walker now 
resides. General Greene was quartered. The middle section of 
the farm, held by \\'illiam Walker, is of more recent origin, the 
buildings having all been erected since my recollection. It may 
be noted as rather an uncommon occurrence, that this part of the 
property is now in the sixth generation of the family. The 
present proprietors are men of industry and enterprise; and, 
while they have steadily increased in wealth, they have also in- 
creased in the value of their respective lands, by suitable, useful 
and commodious buildings and other improvements. 

ABOUT GENERAL WAYNE 

I shall now turn back to the period of the encampment, in 
order to insert some of the incidents of that period, related to me 
by Lewis Walker, in my recent conversation with him on the sub- 
ject. He informed me that the staff of General Wayne consisted 
of Colonel Thomas Robinson, of Naaman's Creek, near the Penn- 
sylvania and Delaware state line. Major Benjamin Fishbourne. of 
the city of Philadelphia, and ]\Iajor Ryan of \lrginia. These had 
their quarters in company with the General at his father's. I 
think I have heard it said that they were all connected with him 
either by relationship or marriage ties. In addition to these, there 
was also at their house, during the time. Dr. Robert Blackwell, 
of the city of Philadelphia, at that time a physician to the army, 
afterwards a clergv-man, and for many years one of the otftciating 
ministers of the united churches of Christ, St. Peters and St. 
Tames, in the city of Philadelphia, celebrated in his latter days for 
his immense wealth. Colonel Robinson spent the latter part of 
his hfe at his farm, on Naaman's Creek; and Major Fishbourne 
was first Governor of the North- Western Territory, then embrac- 
ing all that section of country lying west of the Ohio river, and 



The History of Valley Forge 117 

now divided into so many different states and territories, and 
teeming with inhabitants; and Major Ryan, after the war, re- 
turned to Virginia. 

At the time they were quartered here, Wayne and Fishbourne 
each had in their service an Irishman in the capacity of waiters 
and to take care of their horses. The name of Wayne's servant 
was Patrick Joyce ; and that of Fishbourne's was Phihp — his other 
name could not be recalled. These two men undertook to rob 
them of their horses, clothing, money and other articles of value, 
they could get hold of, and then desert to the British. It so hap- 
pened that the night fixed upon for carrying their design into 
execution, Colonel Robinson had occasion to rise early to attend 
to some duties, and not finding his change of raiment that had 
been brought home the preceding evening by his washer-woman, 
and placed by him in a situation that he knew where to find them, 
he proceeded to make a further search, and soon found that many 
other things had disappeared, among others the saddles and bridles 
of Wayne and Fishbourne, and their boots and pistols. He then 
alarmed the others, and the servants were observed in the act of 
taking the horses from the stable. The guard was ordered to stop 
them, which they did. In the morning they were tried, and each 
one sentenced to receive two hundred lashes on the bare skin. 
The sentence was carried into execution, Lewis Walker having 
been a witness to it. They were afterwards turned away, and, in 
all probability, went to the British. 

During the time of the war, Joseph Walker endeavored as 
much as possible to take no part with either of the contending 
powers, he being a man of pacific principles, and a member of the 
Society of Friends. This gave occasion for many to condemn 
him as a Tory, by many of the Republican party, but such was 
his steady and consistent conduct through that trying and severe 
campaign, that he escaped with less loss of his property than 
many others. He had a large field of rye, and one of wheat, and 
the whole of his mowing ground, that was not destroyed, Wayne 
having placed a strong guard over them, to prevent the enclosures 
being taken away, or any person entering upon them. It was re- 
marked in some of my former communications that the soldiers 
had suffered much from the small-pox; and this suffering was 
prolonged from being deprived of suitable food to facilitate their 
recovery. Lewis Walker, in our recent conversation, informed 
me that he well remembers them, in the spring of 1778, coming to 
their houses, bearing the marks of suffering, and craving of their 
benevolent mother, something to relieve their sufferings. One 
thing they particularly desired was vegetable food, as they had 
long been confined to the salted provisions of the camp. Their 
meadow abounded at that time with docks and other greens, but 
the guard would not permit them to enter. Upon making their 



ii8 The History of Valley Forge 

complaints to her, she took the responsibihty upon herself, told 
the guards to let them enter and collect them to boil with their 
salted provisions. They did so, and recovered gradually upon 
change of diet. Neither the guard, soldiers or herself were ever 
molested for the liberty they had taken. 

A short time previous to the close of the campaign, he said a 
dinner party was given at his father's, by Gen. Wayne and staff, 
to the officers and many of their neighbors. A large temporary 
table, capable of accommodating a hundred persons was prepared, 
for the occasion, under the shade of some trees near the house, 
where they partook of the dinner, there being more than a hun- 
dred persons who dined there on the occasion, the fare not being 
quite so sumptuous as some of our modern entertainment. Among 
the guests on the occasion was the Commander-in-Chief and his 
wife, the wife of General Wayne, and nearly all the generals and 
field officers of the encampment, and some of the neighbors of 
both sexes. He (Lewis Walker) says that he was sent to invite 
some of the officers on the occasion, and remembered the figure 
he made at the time. He mounted an old horse, without a saddle, 
with a blind halter instead of a bridle and thus equipped he rode 
barefooted about, to spread the invitations to them. He related 
to me many other things that occurred at the time, some of which 
have been noticed, others I shall omit. 

Joseph Walker died in the year 1818, in the eighty-eighth year 
of his age, leaving a numerous family of descendants. Among 
the survivors of them are two of his sons — Lewis, from whom 
the most of the contents of this letter have been obtained; and 
Enoch Walker, now advanced in years and residing in Susque- 
hanna county. His son, Isaac Walker, with whom Greene was 
quartered, resided at the same place all his days, and died in 
1822 in the sixty-eighth year of his age, leaving also a numerous 
family of children and grandchildren, many of whom still reside 
in the neighborhood of the place. 

I shall now conclude by requesting the publishers to forward 
to Lewis Walker, Market Street, between Eleventh and Twelfth, 
Philadelphia, and Enoch Walker, Dimmick Post Office, Susque- 
hanna county, Pa., each a copy of the paper containing this num- 
ber. In my next, I shall proceed with my description of the 
other properties where officers were quartered. 




The History of Valley Forge 119 



LETTER XXVI 

THE FARM OF BENJAMIN JONES 

HE FARMS where Potter, Poor, Mifflin and Sullivan 
were quartered, will next claim our attention. The 
farm of Jacob Walker had been disposed of at the 
time to Benjamin Jones. A part of it extended to 
the Front Line Hill, and in common with others, in 
similar situations, it was laid waste and the timber upon it de- 
stroyed, and some huts erected upon it. There were upon this 
farm two dwelling houses — Jacob Walker then occupying one; 
and Benjamin Jones, the other. The latter having purchased the 
whole of the property, he for several years carried on an extens- 
ive business in the manufactory of scythes and sickles, but had 
discontinued it before my recollection. He continued to reside 
on the farm the remainder of his days, and died at an advanced 
age, in the year 1815. The house in which he resided, and, where 
Poor was quartered, with a few acres of land, I think is still held 
by some of the family. The residue of the estate (the original 
mansion of Jacob Walker) is now owned by a person from Shef- 
field, in England, named Geo. Greaves, formerly extensively en- 
gaged in Sheffield, in the manufactory of various articles of cut- 
lery and hardware. He does not at present reside on the prop- 
erty. This farm has been rented for many years, and though a 
highly productive one, yet it has not been improved as regards its 
buildings and appurtenances, as much as some of the others im- 
mediately surrounding it. 

FARMS OF THOMAS WATERS 

The farms of Thomas Waters adjoined this estate on the 
northeast. He owned a large body of land, consisting of four 
farms- — three of them in the county of Chester, the other in the 
county of Montgomery. I shall now notice the two immediately 
adjoining the farm of Benjamin Jones. The others were not, as 
I have ever been informed remarkable for anything of sufficient 
importance, during the Revolution, to claim attention. One of 
the farms, at the time of the encampment, was occupied by Wil- 
liam Godfrey. At this place Mifflin was quartered. He did not 
remain there during the whole time. He retired to Reading for a 
part of the time, in order to recruit his health and strength. Wil- 
liam Godfrey, soon after the close of the war, removed to York 
county, where he died about the year 1813, advanced in years. 



I20 The History of Valley Forge 

After the burning of the Valley Forge, the family of Colonel 
Dewees removed to this place and continued there for several 
years. While residing here he again resumed the manufacturing 
of iron at Valley Forge, and also engaged in a similar business at 
Heidelberg, in the now county of Lebanon. He became embar- 
rased in his afifairs, and was sold out by the Sheriff, and the lat- 
ter part of his days was spent in poverty and neglect of the world. 
Thomas Waters died about the year 1791, and by will bequeathed 
his property to his grandson, Thomas W. Dewees. He soon dis- 
sipated the property, and disposed of it to a person named John 
Miller, a stone cutter of the city of Philadelphia, and a native of 
Scotland. He being a man of wealth and enterprise, soon after 
erected a large and substantial barn, finished in the most complete 
manner, and the second one of the kind erected in that portion of 
country, where so many similar ones have since been erected. 
John Miller died in 1814. The property was soon after sold to 
Hananiah Walker for two hundred dollars per acre. It is now 
owned by his two sons, and divided into two farms. This farm 
is justly celebrated for its fertility of soil, and for having water 
in every enclosure upon it. 

The farm on which Thomas W^aters lived during the Revolu- 
tion was situate on the northwest of the one last described, and 
lying near the lines of the encampment, but not extending to 
them. It was here the Hessians found the money, and it was 
here the British drove away the cattle, and took many other 
things. Here General Sullivan was quartered, and it was here 
that Thomas Waters and Colonel Dewes both died. It was also 
here that the family of Colonel Dewees, after his embarrassment 
and the death of Thomas Waters, retired to reside. The property 
being bequeathed to Waters Dewees, subject to a life right in it 
for his mother, amounting in substance to the whole of the in- 
come of the farm. Colonel Dewees, as noticed in a former com- 
munication, died in the year 1809. 

THE WIDOW OF COL. DEWEES INDEMNIFIED 

About seven years after his death, his widow and some of the 
heirs, finding the papers relative to the claim on government, for 
damages sustained by the burning of Valley Forge, again resumed 
their petition to that body, and after carrying it through two suc- 
cessive sessions, in the first being negatived, but in the second 
passed by both houses, and a compensation of seven thousand, 
five hundred dollars allowed them. During the time of its. prose- 
cution, I was engaged in the store of a son-in-law of the Colonel's, 
in the city of Philadelphia, and had to call upon Caleb North, Wil- 
liam Jackson, George A. Baker, and several others of the surviv- 
ing officers of the Revolution, to procure their signatures to the 
petition. It was on that occasion that Caleb North informed me 



The History of Valley Forge 121 

of his having witnessed the conflagration from an eminence on 
Mount Joy. On account of his knowledge of the country, he 
being a native of Chester county, his place of abode not being 
more than twelve miles from the place, he had been sent, as 
noticed, incognito, to watch the movements of the detachment of 
the British army that destroyed it. Upon presenting him with 
the papers, he read them with emotion, particularly the certificates 
of Washington, Wayne, Mifflin and other officers of the Revolu- 
tion, drawing at the same time the lively recollection of what he 
had beheld, and the scenes he had passed through, and observed 
that it required something more of him than, a mere signature. 
He accordingly prepared a certificate setting forth a statement of 
the facts, to accompany the documents, to the city of Washington. 
The widow of Colonel Dewees continued to reside here until 
the spring of 182 1. The property was then sold to Mordecai 
Davis. It has since passed into the ownership of his son, Joseph 
Davis, the present proprietor. The widow of Colonel Dewees 
died at Valley Forge, in the latter part of 1822, aged near eighty 
years. This farm is fertile and highly productive in its nature. 
Upon it was erected in the year 1799, the first large and commodi- 
ous stone barn in that part of the country, it being ninety feet in 
length, and forty-five in width. This farm has long been cele- 
brated on account of the number of cattle that are annually fed 
upon it by its present owner, and also of the numerous agricul- 
tural products that are raised upon it, particularly wheat, Indian 
corn and hay. 

FARM OF ABIJAH STEPHENS 

All the property lying between this farm and the Front Line 
Hill, in Chester county, belonged at the time of the encampment 
to Abijah Stephens (my grandfather). Much has already been 
said concerning it, in connection with the accounts of the Revolu- 
tion. I shall say but little further on the subject. The natural 
fertility of the soil is the same as those already mentioned as lying 
in the rich Valley of Chester county, but owing to its proximity 
to the camp, and other causes that I have mentioned, it not only 
suffered more severely, and was placed in a situation more difficult 
to overcome the disadvantages under which it was placed. My 
grandfather was a self-taught surgeon and practitioner in the art 
of healing ulcers, abscesses of various kinds, setting of broken 
bones and dislocations, curing spasms, cuts and bruises, but never 
undertook to attend in cases of sickness of any kind. At this time 
the number of physicians was very limited, and he having an 
extensive practise, did not engage in the resuscitating of his farm 
with that energy that characterized some others. The improve- 
ments were more gradual. In his life time the land was fenced. 



122 The History of Valley Forge 

the soil cultivated, but with the exception of a new house erected 
by him, where he lived the latter part of his life, he erected no 
other buildings upon it. His farm, at the close of the Revolution, 
consisted of about three hundred and fifty acres of land, about 
one hundred and thirty of which he disposed of in his life time. 
He died on the twenty-first day of the eleventh month (Novem- 
ber), one thousand, eight hundred and two, aged seventy years 
and nine months. He was born the same day as General Wash- 
ington. Through life he sustained the character of an affection- 
ate husband and father, friend and honest man, his fame as a 
practitioner, in various instances, is still remem.bered, and the vir- 
tue of his celebrated adhesive, sticking plaster will long be re- 
membered, and used as a valuable and important family acquisi- 
tion. 

He left at his death, one son and six daughters. By will he 
bequeathed the great body of his land to his son, Stephen 
Stephens, who deceased about five years ago. The original man- 
sion and other buildings on the property, at the time of the Revo- 
lution, have all been superceded by new ones, and since his death 
that part of the estate has been divided into three parts, and it is 
now owned by one of his sons, who resides near the original man- 
sion. His daughter owns another portion of it, and three of his 
grandchildren the residue. A part of this property is now in pos- 
session of the sixth generation of the lineal descent of Evan ap 
Bevan, their original ancestor. 

A small portion, consisting of eleven acres of land, with the 
appurtenances, has recently, on account of the death of one of the 
daughters of Abijah Stephens, been disposed of out of the family. 
The residue is still in possession of some branches of the family. 
The descendants of Abijah Stephens are very numerous, though 
but few of them now bear the name. 

I have now finished a description of all the property lying in 
the county of Chester, as contemplated in my original design. 
In my next I shall proceed to that portion lying in the county of 
Montgomery. 

I had originally anticipated concluding these narratives with 
this number, but I find I shall not be able to do so, as there are 
yet some very interesting accounts of the improvements that have 
lately taken place, and some occurrences and reminiscences that 
have transpired in that section of country, particularly in that por- 
tion of it that has not yet been fully described. I shall, therefore, 
be under the necessity of adding a few more additional numbers 
to those that have been finished. 



The History of Valley Forge 123 




LETTER XXVII 

THE MOORE PROPERTIES 

HE PROPERTY embraced in the lines of the en- 
campment, and lying in the northeastern and northern 
section of it, in the county of Montgomery, will 
claim our notice in this communication. The greater 
portion of this property at that time belonged to John 
and Mordecai Moore, and has been noticed in some former num- 
bers. On this property fortifications were constructed and pick- 
ets placed. At John Moore's, which was the furthest from Head- 
quarters, Muhlenberg was quartered in company with a number 
of inferior officers ; and at the house of Mordecai Moore, the Com- 
missary General of the army was stationed, and General Morgan 
was occasionally quartered at the place. 

Much has been already said concerning this property in the 
general account of the encampment. I shall, therefore, in this 
number inform my readers, that Mordecai Moore continued to 
reside there till the spring of 1801. He had raised a family of 
six sons and two daughters ; these had all left him previous to that 
time. His daughters were married, and his sons had principally 
removed to other parts of the country to seek their fortunes — 
some as mechanics and two as professional men. He and his 
wife, being advanced in years and the property resuscitated from 
the effects of the war, removed to Abington township in the same 
county, to reside with their son, who was settled there as a prac- 
titioner of medicine, and rented his farm during the residue of 
his life. He died at Abington in the summer of 1803, advanced 
in years. 

ALEXANDER KENNEDY 

Some time after his decease, the property was sold to Alex- 
ander Kennedy, a native of Ireland, who removed to reside upon 
it in 1805, and continued there until his death, in the fall of i8z|4, 
aged sixty-three years. From a small beginning upon his arrival 
in this countr}'-, he increased in wealth and property, and at the 
same time by an exemplary life and character, he lived univer- 
sally respected, and died sincerely lamented, not only by his fam- 
ily, but also by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. I may 
here notice something concerning him, that shows the reverses 
of fortune that people sometimes pass through. When he first 
arrived in the country, he was engaged in the capacity of a foot- 



124 The History of Valley Forge 

man, to a person in the neighborhood, of a haughty disposition, 
and it was his business to hold his horse, follow him on foot from 
place to place, to take care of it when he rode out in his chair, 
and perform other menial services. In the course of a few years 
time became altered ; the servant became a man of wealth and 
respectability, the master became a poor, distressed and debilitated 
object, scarcely able to travel from one house to another — an 
evidence of the truth of the declaration of the wise man, that 
"pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a 
fall." I have seen him when thus reduced, ask of Alexander 
Kennedy to allow him the privilege of riding in his ox-cart, such 
were the reverses of fortune that had overtaken him. But to 
resume the subject 

After the decease of Alexander Kennedy, his family contin- 
ued to reside on the property, until the spring of 1837. It was 
then sold to David Zook, the present owner and occupant of the 
greater part of it. He married a granddaughter of Mordecai 
Aloore, so that a part of the property has now got into possession 
of a branch of its original owner. The southwestern portion of 
the farm, that part on which the huts and breastworks were 
erected, is now owned by Abraham Beidler. The whole of the 
property originally belonging to the Moore family, and owned by 
Alexander Kennedy at the time of his death, consisting of more 
than two hundred acres, is under a state of high cultivation and 
is abundantly productive, and continues improving under the 
present enterprising owners of it. 

The farm or rather farms of John Moore will now claim our 
attention. As noticed in a former letter, John Moore, the owner 
of them, at the time Muhlenberg took up his headquarters at the 
place, died soon after, on the first day of the year 1778. Two of 
his sons, John and Richard Moore, took possession of the prop- 
erty. The mansion where ]\Iuhlenberg was quartered was taken 
by Richard IMoore, and was the farthest extent of the lines of 
encampment in a northeastern direction, and nearest to the city of 
Philadelphia. Another farm, lying on the west of this property 
and nearer the Schuylkill, the one on which the fort was erected, 
and also a considerable number of the huts, was taken by John 
Moore. They both held these farms during their lives. John 
Moore died in the spring of 1822, and Richard Moore in the fall 
of 1823 ; they both were at their decease between sixty-five and 
seventy years of age. During their lifetimes they had each pur- 
chased considerable real estate adjoining their paternal farms, 
which will be noticed in some future numbers. The children of 
John Moore now own none of the real estate ; it has passed into 
the ownership of different persons — some during his lifetime, the 
residue since his death. The two sons of Richard Moore, Edwin 
and Samuel, now own all the real estate of their father held by 



The History of Valley Forge 125 

him at his decease; and the former one now (1850) owns the 
mansion and about seventy acres of the farm of John Moore. 
These farms, together with the others I have been describing, are 
all situated in the Great Valley ; and for richness of soil, con- 
venience of market, contiguity of railroads, canals and turnpikes, 
abundance of limestone and other advantages which might be 
enumeiated, are such as place it in a situation that is not excelled 
by any other portion of country in Eastern Pennsylvania. On 
the farm of Edwin Moore are several large and beautiful springs 
of limestone water. They issue out of the northwest side of a 
hill about a mile from the Schuylkill, supplying in their course a 
large flouring mill with a constant supply of water; and so uni- 
form is the quantity that it is not impeded by drought in summer 
or frost in winter. To describe the beauty of the largest of these 
springs and the transparency of the water issuing from them in 
a meandering course until it reaches the mill dam, is not in my 
power. They must be seen to be duly appreciated. The stream 
in my earlier days used to be noted for its abundance of fine 
trout, and was much frequented by anglers. To the truth of this 
assertion my friend, William Henry, of Doylestown, can bear 
ample proof. Of late they have much decreased. Belonging to 
Edwin and Samuel Moore is a piece of land containing, in con- 
nection with about fifteen acres of land in Montgomery county, 
now in possession of our family, that is known by the name of 
the mine land on account of its having been purchased about one 
hundred and fifty years ago (1700) by a company of people for 
the purpose of digging for copper. As the business of mining in 
this line has recently been commenced in many places in that 
vicinity, I shall devote a greater portion of time to a more gen- 
eral account of it in some future numbers. 

The greater part of the country that I have described on the 
western side of the Schuylkill, particularly that part lying in the 
Great Valley, was laid waste, and but little exertion was made by 
most of the owners of it to improve it until after the conclusion of 
the war. They then commenced the restoration of their farms. 
The hand of industry soon caused the face of the country to as- 
sume a different aspect, but it was for many years after before 
some of it was restored. In commencing this work they encoun- 
tered many difficulties. Continental money died on their hands. 
The government was for many years after in a very unsettled 
state. The foreign trade was crippled by the war. And many 
other discouraging circumstances had to be surmounted by perse- 
vering industry and patient resignation. In a few years these 
were overcome; their lands were enclosed; where lately nothing 
was beheld but desolation could be seen the fruitful fields crowned 
with abundance of grain of every description, for the sustenance 
of man and beast, and in summer clad with verdant grass, on 



126 The History of \'alley Forge 

which flocks and herds were quietly feeding and the whole face of 
the country bearing witness of the blessings of peace in contrast 
with the evils of war. The adoption of the present Constitution 
of the United States, the revival of trade and commerce, the de- 
mand of our produce in foreign ports, and the establishment of a 
sound currency, soon placed the agricultural interests of that 
period on a firm and lucrative foundation. 

A DIGNIFIED VISITOR IN A PLAIN SUIT OF BLACK 

I shall close tliis communication with an account I have often 
heard related by my father. In the latter part of the summer of 
1796. he was engaged in ploughing in a tield near the Front Line 
Hill. It was in the afternoon of the day. and he observed an 
elderly person of a very dignitied appearance, dressed in a plain 
suit of black, on horseback, accompanied by a black waiter, ride 
to a place in the road opposite to him, where he alighted from his 
horse and came into the tield to him, and shaking hands cordially 
with him, told him he had called to make some inquiry of him, 
concerning the owners and occupants of the ditterent places about 
there, and also in regard to the system of fanning practised in 
that part of the country, the kinds of grain and vegetables raised, 
the time of sowing and planting, the best method of tilling the 
ground, the quantity raised, and numerous otlier things relative 
to fanning and agriculture, and asking after some families in the 
neighborhood. As answers were given he noted them down in 
a memorandum book. 

My father infonned him that he was unable to give as correct 
infonnation as he could wish, as he had not been brought up to 
tlie farming business, and was not a native of that part of the 
countr\-. having settled tliere since the war, that he came from 
North Carolina, where he resided previous to tlie Revolution, 
that he had been in the anny and was one of the number en- 
camped there during the war. This gave a new turn to the con- 
versation. The stranger infonned him that he had also been in 
tlie anny and encamped there, and was expecting in a few months 
to leave the city of Philadelphia, with no prospect of ever return- 
ing. He had taken a journey to visit the place, view the old en- 
campment ground, which had been the scene of so much suffering 
and distress, and see how far the inhabitants were recovering 
from the disasters they had experienced, and the losses they had 
sustained from that event, adding that his name was George 
^^'ashington. 

Upon receiving this infonnation, my father told him that his 
costume and appearance were so altered that he did not recognize 
him. or he would have paid more respect to his old Commander 
and the Chief Magistrate of the Union. He replied that to see 
the people happy and satisfied, and the desolate fields recovering 



The History of Valley Forge 127 

from the disasters they had experienced, and particularly to meet 
with any old companion of his in arms and suffering now peace- 
fully engaged in the most useful of all employments, afforded him 
more real satisfaction than all the servile homage that could be 
paid to his person or station. He then asked his name, noted it 
in his memorandum book, and said that pressing engagements 
rendered it necessary for him to return to the city that night, or 
he would visit some of his former friends at their houses. Then 
taking him by the hand bade him an affectionate farewell. 

In my next, I shall describe the property in the county of 
Montgomery, in the lines of the encampment, lying on the river. 



128 The History of Valley Forge 




LETTER XXVIII 
LAETITIA PENN'S MANOR 

HE PROPERTY I shall now proceed to describe con- 
sists of a tract of land lying in the county of Mont- 
gomery, on the river Schuylkill, extending down the 
same from the \'alley Forge tract to the north of a 
small stream (originally called Cedar Creek), and 
bounded on the southeast by a line called the Bilton Line, com- 
mencing near the mouth of the stream, and running a southwest- 
erly course until it strikes the \"alley Creek, a part of said line 
being the county line of Chester and Montgomery counties. 

This tract containing more than a thousand acres was called 
"Laetitia Penn's Manor,'* on account of it having been given by 
William Penn to his daughter Laetitia. The greater part of it 
has been referred to as the property of David Stephens, William 
Smith and the place where the commander of the Second Regi- 
ment was quartered. 

THE JENKINSMORRIS FARM 

There is one farm lying on the river, adjoining the latter one, 
and still lower down, that having suffered in some measure from 
the effects of the encampment, I shall therefore take some notice 
of it. This was owned by a person named Jenkins. He first 
settled there more than one hundred years ago (before 1750)- 
From him a pool in the river, celebrated for its depth and good 
fishing, and also an island took their names. 

This property passed into other hands, more than eighty years 
ago. But whether sold by him in his life time or since his death, 
I cannot say. He died about that time. My mother deceased a 
little more than three years since, in the eighty-ninth year of her 
age, remembered him, though she was very young at the time of 
his death. He was a Welshman, and used to converse with her 
grandmother in that language. This was the principal recollec- 
tion she had of him. At the time of the Revolution and for more 
than twenty years after, it belonged to Robert Morris, the great 
financier and the founder of Morrisville in this county (Bucks). 
After his embarrassment it was sold by the Sheriff to John 
Moore, and, with the exception of the mill and appurtenances 
and fifteen acres of land sold to Isaac Beaver, it was held by him 
till his death in 1S22. It, was soon after sold to Dennis Conard, 



The History of Valley Forge 129 

the present owner and occupant. The original mansion erected 
by Jenkins is, I think, still standing on the property, though new 
and substantial buildings have been erected upon it by the present 
proprietor. At the time of the war this property was occupied by 
a minister of the Society of Friends, named Abraham Griffith, 
and it is more than probable that some officers may have been 
quartered there. It suffered some little destruction of timber 
from the soldiers, but owing to its distance from the main body 
of the encampment, it was not so much devastated as some others. 
While this property belonged to Robert Morris, he used some- 
times to form parties for the purpose of fishing for the speckled 
trout that abounded in the stream on and near the premises, to 
which he invited the President and heads of the different depart- 
ments of government, members of Congress and other distin- 
guished officers and citizens of Philadelphia, numbers of whom 
often attended on these occasions for the two-fold object of en- 
joying the pleasure of the party and visiting the old ground of the 
encampment. 

PORT KENNEDY 

The farm mentioned as the quarters of the commander of the 
Second Regiment, and the next in course as we proceed up the 
river, with the next one above, where the provost's guard was 
placed, were originally owned by a person named Eglington, who 
left two daughters, to whom the property descended. One of 
them named Mary, to whom the former one belonged, married a 
person named David Riley, and for some years resided upon it. 
This was previous to the Revolution. They mortgaged this prop- 
erty to a person named Thomas Hazelton, and neither principal 
or interest of the mortgage was paid. The Rileys moved off the 
property, and upon the death of Hazelton, the claim descended to 
his two daughters, who took possession of it by virtue of the 
mortgage. One of them married a sea captain named Alexander 
Hodgson, the other went to England, lived there the remainder of 
her days, and died unmarried within the last thirty years. Alex- 
ander Hodgson died more than forty years ago. His widow died 
since my removal to this county (about 1828). They left no 
children. 

My first recollection of this property was when in the fourth 
year of my age. It was then occupied by Michael Shur. It was 
then called Hodgson's place, and celebrated on account of a great 
spring that rises upon it by two distinct heads, which issue from 
under a large beech tree, and unite together immediately after 
flowing from the hill. Either of these springs are as large as 
Ingham's great spring in this county, but rising so near the river, 
and not possessing sufficient natural advantages, the water power 
has never been used for manufacturing purposes. There is one 



130 The History of Valley Forge 

thing remarkable about these springs, that is, that though they 
rise within a few feet of each other, the one is soft sandstone, the 
other hard limestone water. 

This place having wuth others suffered from the effects of the 
encampment, it did not, like some others, advance in the same 
course of improvement. The greater part of it lay a common for 
more than fifty years after, doubts as to the ownership of it 
preventing much improvement being made upon it. The Hazel- 
ton family holding it by virtue of the mortgage, and the Riley 
family having moved off without paying principal or interest, or 
in any other way disposing of it, the fences went to decay. The 
buildings were poor and trifling, the soil became exhausted, and 
for many years previous to the )^ear 1820, the greater part of it 
was the picture of desolation and barrenness. 

About this time seven-sixteenths of the whole estate was sold 
by an agent of the widow Hodgson to Alexander Kennedy, John 
Elliott, John Frick and Lewis Wanwag. The other sixteenth 
which was her full share, was retained by the agent until a dis- 
puted line should be settled. Previous to the fall of 1824, Alex- 
ander Kennedy purchased all the right and interest in the property 
belonging to John Elliott and Lewis Wanwag, so that at the time of 
his decease he was owner of three-eighths of the whole estate. 
Since that time his heirs have purchased the right and title of all the 
other owners, thus becoming absolute owners of the whole prop- 
erty. The estate, with the exception of some building lots, and 
about thirteen acres of limestone land, the latter sold to Robert 
Bethel, formerly of this county, now belongs to William, David 
R., and John Kenned}'. There is now (1850) on this property 
more than fifty houses, sixty lime kilns in constant operation, 
employing more than four hundred men ; a large hotel, three stor- 
ies high and forty feet square; four stores, two blacksmith shops 
and wheelwright shops ; and numerous other manufacturing trades 
carried on at the place; and two lumber 3-ards and several coal 
yards, doing an extensive business. 

This place is called Port Kennedy, and is celebrated for the 
great quantity of lime that is burnt, and shipped in canal boats 
annually from there to various parts of the states of Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey, Delaware and ]\Iar3'land. The amount sent from this 
place during last year, I was informed by two of the proprietors, 
was more than one million, two hundred and fift}^ thousand bush- 
els. \Ye may then safely hazard the opinion that it is the most 
extensive operation, in that line of business, in the LTnion. Here, 
at times and seasons, on working days, if some unavoidable cir- 
cumstance does not prevent, may be seen the jolly sons of Emerald 
Isle, some driving their carts loaded with lime and coal, to and 
from the river, some hauling stones to fill the kilns, others are 
quarrying, some engaged in filling, while others are loading carts. 



The Histqry of Valley Forge 131 

and, in fact all the different operations attendant upon it, are 
conducted at the same time, at different kilns, belonging to the 
same person. Each of the workmen appearing to enjoy them- 
selves in their different avocations, if the joyous song or merry 
whistle may be taken as an evidence of contentment. The boats 
that carry the lime from the place are large and commodious, 
and of late the most of them furnished with masts and sails to 
be used in tide-water. They generally contain about three thou- 
sand bushels. 

In addition to the different branches of business mentioned 
above, it may also be noticed that the arable land has been much 
improved by the present active and enterprising owners ; so that 
the land which for half a century lay barren and unproductive, a 
waste and almost useless common, now abounds with plenty, and 
is enclosed, producing an abundance of the fruits of the earth for 
the sustenance of mankind. An evidence of the truth of it is 
apparent by the large and well-filled barns on the premises. 

The Reading Railroad passes through the property, and last 
year (1849) ^ bridge was constructed across the river, which 
more intimately connects the business on both sides of the river ; 
and while it is of mutual benefit, it will have a tendency to still 
enhance the value of real estate in the immediate vicinity ; though 
it is now to be regretted that recent injuries done to it by freshets 
have rendered it at present unfit for crossing with vehicles of any 
kind. It is now being repaired. 

The quarries and limekilns on this property are objects of 
great importance, but I shall fail giving a full description of 
them. These, independent of other things, equally interesting, 
would be worthy of a visit. The limestone lies near the surface, 
and is easily quarried. There are two hills of considerable eleva- 
tion extending about three- fourths of the whole length of the 
farm, which are a solid body of limestone. A small vale of about 
sixty feet in width passes between them, and gradually descends 
toward the river, which is the great thoroughfare for the numer- 
ous teams employed in conducting the business. Acres of ground 
have been excavated for the purpose of procuring limestone. In 
some places roads or cartways have been cut through solid bodies 
of limestone and lead to quarries belonging to different persons, 
one of which I lately examined. It had then a base line on a 
level with the causeway, of about one hundred and thirteen feet. 
Its perpendicular height was obout eighty feet, and it extended 
in length more than two hundred feet. This quarry is owned by 
David Zook, who^ has purchased a small portion of the estate, 
and is extensively engaged in the lime business. A public road 
now passes through this property, between these two hills, and 
leads from Port Kennedy, through a part of the old encampment, 
to the Gulf Road. The lime kilns are erected at various places — 



132 The History of \'alley Forge 

some on the river, others on both sides of the road just mentioned, 
generally from six to twelve abreast, and containing from t«-o to 
three thousand bushels. It may also be obser^-ed that several 
large basins have been excavated on the river, for the purpose of 
boats entering to receive and discharge their cargoes, and there 
are also a few docks for boats to enter for similar purposes. 

The greater part of the business of the place is done through 
the mediimi of the canal. Coal and limiber are brought in this 
way — the former from the mines in the count\- of Schuylkill, the 
latter generally from the Susquehanna by way of the Union Canal. 
Little business is done here, or at an^^ other place on the river by 
the Reading Railroad, when the navigation is open, except that 
the mail is transported by the locomotive train of cars, and a pas- 
senger train stops daily at this place. There is a postoffice also 
established here, called Port Kenned)- Postoffice. The Reading 
Railroad is chiefly employed in conveying coal from Pottsville to 
Richmond on the Delaware, having enough to do in that line. 
Much more might be said concerning the changes and improve- 
ments this property- has undergone within the last twentj- years, 
were it deemed requisite. Enough has been said to show the 
blessings of peace, enterprise and industry, in contrast w^ith the 
curses of war, devastation and destruction. 

I shall conclude with some observ-ations that I heard made a 
few years ago by an old man now Hving in Abington township, 
Montgomery count}-, who resided at Port Kennedy fony-six 
years ago. 

He was returning from Pottsville in a boat, which stopped for 
a short time at the place, and he availed himself of the opportun- 
it\- of taking a view of the property-, but ever\-thing was strange 
around him. He went to ^-iew the spring, the old house in which 
he lived, the waste fields and other objects which he left there. 
The spring still remained, but the site of it, in its native beauty, 
had been destroyed by buildings erected over it. Instead of the 
old house and miserable bam, new and splendid buildings had been 
erected upon it: the waste fields were enclosed, and the whole 
face of it had undergone a thorough change, and the only objects 
that he could see to remind him of the days of his residence there 
were an old shellbark hickory tree (a part of which is still remain- 
ing) (1850). and the large limestone rock on the bank of the 
river. There, he said, were all he could recognize, and in narrat- 
ing the account he obser\-ed that if he could have been placed there, 
without pre^^ous knowledge of his locality-, he could not possibly 
have known where he was, so great had been the change. In 
relating this account I was forcibly reminded of Washington 




The History of Valley Forge 133 

Irving's humorous tale of Rip Van Winkle sleeping twenty years 
on the Catskill Mountain, and awakening and finding himself a 
stranger to everything transpiring around him. 



LETTER XXIX 
THE PROVOST FARM 

N THIS communication I shall first proceed to give a 
description of the farm on which the provost guard 
was placed during the Revolution, and the officers 
having charge of it were quartered. At the time the 
property containing one hundred and twenty-five 
acres was owned by William Smith, first President of the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, and then occupied by a person, as a tenant, 
named Henry Force. The provost was kept in an old log barn on 
the premises, that stood as a relic of that period until 1830; it 
was then demolished and a new and commodious stone barn erect- 
ed near the site of the old one. This place having within the last 
twenty years undergone much alteration, it will, therefore, claim 
considerable attention. In order that the account may be kept in 
a connected form, I shall now refer to the early hitsory of the 
place. As observed in my last, this property was originally 
owned by a person named Eglington, and at his death, it fell to 
his daughter, who sold it to Henry Pawling, the grandfather of 
Levi Pawling, mentioned in one of my former letters. While in 
his possession he added to it an island in the river, called Catfish 
island (noted on account of a large buttonwood tree growing on 
it at the time, cut down thirty years since), he taking up and pat- 
enting another called Fatland Island, about a half mile higher up 
the river. It has since that time had many owners, numbers of 
them I shall not refer to, as they cannot particularly interest many 
readers. I shall, therefore, just observe that from the time of 
the Proprietor of Pennsylvania granting it to his daughter, up to 
the year 1812, it had passed through sixteen different conveyances. 
I have never heard anything more of sufficient notice occurring 
here during the time of the encampment to claim any further 
observation. It suffered in common with others contiguous to it. 
I shall, therefore, pass by that period, and confine myself to inci- 
dents' that have occurred since my recollection, which extends 
back to the commencement of the present century. It was then 
I first remember being upon it. I was then in the fifth year of 
my age ; it was at that time owned by Andrew Porter, the father 
•of David E. Porter, Ex-Governor of Pennsylvania, and in the 



134 The History of Valley Forge 

occupancy of Michael Shur. As noted, it had suffered from the 
effects of the war, and having changed owners and tenants so 
often it had not improved much either in quality or appearance at 
that period. It was soon after sold to a person named Stephen 
Kingston from Philadelphia, who held it about four years. 

During the time the property was owned by Stephen Kingston, 
he made considerable alterations upon it, and transformed the ap- 
pearance of part of it, but made very little useful or durable im- 
provements; although enough was expended upon it, in enclosing 
three sides of a ten acre with a stone wall of solid masonry, four 
and a half feet high and eighteen inches thick, and erecting an 
ungainly stone edifice covering much ground and affording little 
room to have erected suitable buildings of all kinds necessary for 
the accommodation of such a farm. There was also expended by 
him in making pleasure gardens and fish ponds, and endeavoring 
to rear tropical fruit and numerous other things equally useless, 
to have closed the whole estate with good and substantial fence. 
How much further he would have extended these things is uncer- 
tain, his avowed object being (as it might seem) to effect these 
things first, and then improve the land. But the means failed ; he 
became embarrassed, the place was sold, and then the work 
ceased to be carried on. They gradually fell into decay; and at 
this time there is scarcely anything except the house, which has 
undergone some alterations, left on the premises, to remind the 
observer of the existence of these things. 

Its next owner was George Davis, from the city of Philadel- 
phia ; he held it about two years. It subsequently fell into pos- 
session and ownership of Frederick Weisel. It was disposed of 
to Samuel Richards in the year 1811, who continued to reside in 
it until the year 1824. It was then sold to Thomas J. Walker, 
who removed to reside upon it in the spring of that year. While 
held by Samuel Richards, he sold oft" the southeastern part of it, 
about thirty-two acres, which reduced it down to about ninety- 
three acres. 

During the time it was held by the persons last mentioned, no 
improvement of any consequence was made upon it. The land 
grew but little if any better in quality, many of the enclosures had 
gone to decay, and that part that \\[^s sold by Samuel Richards 
was turned out as a useless common, and had remained so for a 
number of 3'ears. 

The death of Thomas J. Walker occurred about five months 
after his removal to the place. He was an enterprising man, and 
had his life been spared a few years longer, he would no doubt 
have improved the property. It was held by his executors until 
the spring of 1828, when it was disposed of by them to Isaac 
Sharpless, Avho at that time took up his residence upon it. The 



The History of Valley Forge 135 

most of the soil was good, and all it wanted was proper cultiva- 
tion. 

The period had now arrived when this place was to assume a 
different appearance, under management of its then thrifty, in- 
dustrious and enterprising owner. Independent of its natural 
good soil, it possessed other advantages; it abounded in lime- 
stone of a superior quality. The navigation of the Schuylkill had 
been fully completed; the spirit of improving the soil by the ap- 
plication of lime as a manure, or rather fertilizer of the soil, was 
now engaging the attention of farmers in various sections of the 
country, particularly those to whom the navigation of the river 
opened an easy facility of obtaining it through that medium. 
Hence extensive trade in that line was opened, not only to vari- 
ous parts of our own state, both up and down the river, but also 
in various parts of the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Mary- 
land. These combined advantages being improved by the owner 
of the property, it soon began to assume a very different appear- 
ance. 

The useless stone wall was taken down, and the materials used 
for constructing a large stone barn, and other convenient and nec- 
essary buildings. The fences were all renewed by good and sub- 
stantial ones ; and the place seen at the time he took possession of 
it as the scene of dilapidation and decay, now wears a bright 
prospect — a monument of the enterprise of its last industrious 
owner. 

While ov/ned by Isaac Sharpless, he disposed of all that por- 
tion of it lying on the southeast side of a public road leading from 
Port Kennedy to the Valley Forge, except a small portion reserved 
for limestone. On this part of the farm, an extensive business in 
the manufacturing of lime is carried on principally by Richard C. 
Walker and sons, but not to so great an extent as at Port Ken- 
nedy — the business at this place conducted by them being more 
generally to parts of Montgomery, Chester and Delaware coun- 
ties, and hauled by large teams, though considerable is done by 
canal and railroad. On this portion of the property several good 
dwellings have been erected since it came into their possession, 
together v/ith a dwelling house, wheelwright and blacksmith shop, 
erected by others, there being about one hundred inhabitants re- 
siding upon it. 

The Reading Railroad passes through this farm, between the 
original mansion and the river; and from the house can be en- 
joyed an uninterrupted view of both the railroad and the river. 
Here at all hours of the day, may be seen and heard the numerous 
trains of coal and other cars, continually ascending and descend- 
ing upon the railroad, conveying daily thousands of tons of an- 
thracite coal, from the extensive mines in Schuylkill county, to 
Richmond on the Delaware, in the city of Philadelphia, and other 



136 The History of Valley Forge 

productions of the soil, and articles of manufacture and merchan- 
dise. In addition to these, when the navigation is unobstructed 
may be seen large coal boats, passing to and from the same reg- 
ions ; and others laden with lumber and other articles, by way of 
the Union Canal, from various parts of the interior of our own 
state. I have often seen more than a dozen large boats of this 
description at one view from the place, thus engaged. 

It may be also noticed that a lumber and coal yard was com- 
menced on this property by Dr. Jones Davis, about the year 1832; 
but it has for several years been abandoned. I have now in this 
and my last letter, given a general account of these two estates, 
that lay waste so many years, and have recently undergone so 
much improvement. In doing so I have had considerable allusion 
to the business done on the Reading Railroad and the Schuylkill 
Canal, and I hope I will be excused, if I through this medium, 
just suggest to the people of Bucks county, particularly those in. 
the vicinity of New Hope, Doylestown, and other places immedi- 
ately on the route, the advantages that would accrue to them if a 
railroad from New Hope to Norristown could be constructed. 
I merely mention them; at present I shall make no further com- 
ments on them; but resume my general subject. 

THE DAVID STEPHENS FARMS 

The property belonging to David Stephens is now the only one 
that remains to be described that was embraced in the lines of the 
encampment. It consisted of two farms, extending from the last 
described one unto the Valley Forge tract, and lying upon the river 
Schuylkill. 

The lower one, at the time of the war, was occupied by a per- 
son named Zachary Davis ; and at his house General Huntingdon 
had his quarters. This farm, which was large and valuable, 
after the death of David Stephens, which I think was about the 
year 1786, fell to his son, Maurice Stephens, more generally 
known by the name of Esquire Stephens, on account of his hold- 
ing the commission of a justice of the peace for more than thirty- 
five years. He lived and died unmarried, and not being very 
energetic, he did not improve his farm to any great extent, except 
that he erected a large and commodious barn and house upon it. 
He became involved, and spent the great part of it during his life 
time ; he died in the fall of .1827. For some years before his 
death he was blind, and his faculties were impaired. 

The property, about two years previous to his death, was sold 
to William Henry, of the county of Philadelphia, who now 
resides upon it, having removed there shortly after purchasing it. 
The property has been much improved since it has come into his 
possession ; part of it that had laid a common since the Revolution, 
and Drobably longer, has been enclosed, and now is under a high 



The History of Valley Forge 137 

state of cultivation ; additional buildings have been erected upon 
it, and other land lying contiguous to it has been purchased by 
him, so that it now stands conspicuous as one of the largest and 
most highly cultivated farms in that portion of the ground of the 
encampment. William Henry is at present one of the representa- 
tives in the legislature of Pennsylvania. 

On this property there was a number of huts erected, though 
I do not know of any fortifications or breastworks being thrown 
up on it. It was in a hut on this property, that Baron Steuben 
resided during a part of the time of the encampment, being en- 
gaged in teaching the soldiers military tactics ; and it was upon it 
that the soldiery were exercised by him on these occasions. I 
have heard my father relate the awkward blunders and confusion 
that often occurred at such times, on account of the Baron being 
unable to speak the English language, and the soldiers not under- 
standing his orders and instructions given in German. 

The next farm above was where David Stephens resided, 
Varnum was quartered upon this part of the farm; and near 
the mansion the fort was erected that I have noticed in a former 
number, upon an eminence commanding a view of both sides of 
the river. There are very few traces of it left remaining ; but its 
site can be pointed out by many persons, as well as myself, who 
remember to have seen it before it was destroyed. A beautiful 
prospect of the surrounding country can be enjoyed by this emi- 
nence. This part of the property since his death was owned by 
his son, Abijah Stephens. He made during his life time many 
improvements upon it, by the addition of suitable and commodious 
buildings, and also in the improvement of the soil. The mansion 
in which Vernum dwelt is standing. Abijah Stephens died in 
the fall of 1825, aged sixty-seven years. The property is now 
owned by his son, William Stephens, who resides upon it. 

The residue of the farm of David Stephens, consisting of 
more than one hundred and twenty acres, fell into possession of 
his only daughter, Eleanor Richardson ; she died about 1820. The 
most of it now belongs to her children, though some of it had 
passed into other hands in her life time, and some since her death. 
On part of this property many of the remains of the encampment 
still (1850) remain visible, such as fortifications, breastworks 
(particularly the fort used for the magazine), and the traces of 
the foundations of the huts. It was opposite the upper end of 
this property, on the river, that Sullivan's bridge was erected ; 
next above it on the river, were the Headquarters of General 
Washington. 

I have now finished the description of all the property em- 
braced in the lines of the encampment ; and a few more communi- 
cations will finish this prolonged account. 



138 The History of Valley Forge 



LETTER XXX 

MINERALS 

^ HE DISCOVERY of large quantities of copper on 



^S^j i?^^ some of the property I have been describing, and, 
r^^_^^^ also upon lands lying contiguous to the Valley Forge 
"^ *'^'' and Pickering, a stream that empties into the Schuyl- 
kill about three miles above \'alley Forge, having 
recently attracted much attention, and enhanced the value of 
property, particularly that portion of it last noticed. I shall pro- 
ceed in this communication to give some account concerning it. 

In some former letters, I observed, concerning that portion of 
countr)', that recent discoveries and establishment of some manu- 
factories on a small scale, had made some innovations upon the 
regular habits of the inhabitants resident upon it. Since the 
geological sur\-ey of Pennsylvania, discoveries have been made of 
the existence of copper in its natural state, in many places in the 
vicinit}- of \'alley Forge, and the attention of capitalists has re- 
cently been turned towards mining operations in that line. For 
this purpose two companies have been organized, and large tracts 
or portions of land lying on both sides of the Schuylkill, in the 
counties of Chester and ^lontgomery. have been secured by them, 
either by purchase or lease for a nvmiber of years, in order to 
carr\- on the business. The land supposed to contain the anicle, 
lying between the \'alley Forge and Pickering Creek, have been 
purchased by a company from Philadelphia, called Remington & 
Co. The other company. I have understood, are Englishmen 
from Cornwall in England, called Pedrick & Co.. and that they 
have leased portions of land in ^lontgomery count}-, on both 
sides of the river, and that the operations are now being carried 
on by them with every prospect of success. 

• I shall now refer to some remarks, in a recent communication, 
concerning a tract of land, a part of which is now owned by 
Edwin or Samuel Moore, that was purchased for a similar pur- 
pose near one hundred and tift>- years ago. Copper, at that time, 
was known to exist on that land, and it was then purchased by a 
company, and operations in that line commenced, not so much for 
the sake of the copper as the hope that they would also find, in 
connection with it, silver and gold in abundance. For this pur- 
pose numerous pits were dug in various places upon the north- 
eastern part of it ; and I have understood that enough of copper 



was obtained for the purpose of defraying the expenses of dig- 



The History of Valley Forge 139 

ging, and to enable the company to pay for the land. But at that 
early period the people had not the advantages which we now pos- 
sess ; mechanic arts had made but little progress, and for want o£ 
the means of pumping the water by hydraulic apparatus, they had, 
in all cases, after sinking the pit to nearly a uniform depth, en- 
countered springs of water so abundant as to arrest their progress 
and put an end to their labors. In process of time, all further 
efforts to obtain not only gold and silver, but even copper, were 
entirely abandoned, and the land lay uncultivated and unimproved 
for many years, until it fell into possession of my grandfather and 
Thomas Waters. A part of it held by my grandfather is still in 
possession of a part of the family. The residue, since his death, 
and that portion owned by Thomas Waters, has all of it passed, 
within the last fifty years, into the ownership of Richard Moore, 
the father of the present owners of it. I may just observe that 
while a part of this property was owned by the late Stephen 
Stephens, a quarry of g}'psum was supposed to be discovered 
upon it; but if so, it has never amounted to anything further 
than a supposed discovery. A portion of this tract was taken by 
Pedrick & Co., for the purpose of mining for copper. I may here 
observe that about the time the mining was in operation, about the 
commencement of the last century, that similar operations were 
commenced on the property of my great-grandfather, Stephen 
Evans, and that the remains of numerous pits are still visible, 
lying on the Gulf road, on the farm of the late Stephen Stephens, 
in Chester county. Tradition says, that copper was found there 
to some extent, but the same cause that frustrated their design 
on the mine tract, operated against them at that place, and the 
work was abandoned. I have no doubt that copper does exist in 
that particular section, from the fact that in digging wells about 
the depth of thirty feet, water is generally obtained, and it has 
been found in some instances, to taste strongly of copper, and 
when taken up in a tin or earthen vessel and left to stand for some 
time, a thick sediment, resembling a solution of copperas, is found 
settled in the bottom of the vessel. ' 

Another peculiarity of this tract that I have been describing, 
is the kind of stone found on and near its surface. It is of that 
kind commonly called the honey-comb, on account of its light 
porous nature and its supposed resemblance to the honey-comb of 
the bee. It abounds on what is called the mine tract, generally 
lying on the surface or in detached rocks fast in the ground, many 
of them crystallized, with crystals of various sizes, the most of 
them of a clear white color, with four regular sides, and termi- 
nating in a point so sharp and hard that glass has sometimes been 
cut with them. Many of these crystals lie loose on the ground, 
but the great body of them are found adhering to the honey-comb 
stone. Many buildings have been erected in the neighborhood 



1^0 The History of \"alley Forge 

with this kind of stone ; they are very Hght, and on this account, 
they are very useful, as they do not require much bodily 
strength to raise them to the top of the building. Although very 
light and porous, yet they form a solid substantial wall and are 
impervious to water. Many other varieties of minerals are found 
in that district ; so much so .that they have attracted the attention 
of mineralogists, and numerous specimens of them have been ob- 
tained to place in cabinets of different persons. I have collected 
many of them and forwarded them to different persons. Some of 
them I think may be found in the extensive mineral cabinet of my 
friend, John Watson, of Greenville, Buckingham township, Bucks 
county. 

I have never heard of any iron being found in any part of the 
country immediately in the vicinity of Valley Forge; and from 
the circumstance that very little attraction of the needle has ever 
been noticed on any part of the property that I have described 
(except in the immediate locality of the old \'alley Forge and 
other iron works), and no furnaces ever having been erected there, 
I conclude that it does not exist in that section. It has recently 
been found in abundance in the neighborhood of Kimberton, in 
Pikeland township, in ^'incent and other places in Chester county; 
near the Gulf, and in Plymouth and \Miitemarsh townships, in 
IMontgomery county ; and a large profitable business is carried on 
at these places, but as they do not properly belong to my subject, 
I shall make no further observations upon them. While the man- 
ufacture of iron was carried on at \^alley Forge, the pigs were 
obtained from various parts of Berks and Chester counties, where 
the Potts family held several valuable furnaces. 

The great source of mineral wealth in that portion of country 
that has been described, lying on the eastern side of the Schuylkill 
and the \'alley Creek, consists in immense bodies of limestone, 
lying on the Schuylkill and in the Great Valley. These, in many 
places, have been, particularly within the last thirty years, im- 
proved to great advantage by the owners of them, and have proved 
a twofold source of profit, not only to them, but to all portions of 
the country where agriculture has been benefitted b}' the applica- 
tion of lime as a manure, thus enriching both the vender and the 
purchaser. 

Having already said much on that subject in some former 
numbers, I shall dismiss the subject by observing that to see the 
various operations in this line of business, would amply repay 
the man of leisure to visit the place. In addition to the lime- 
stone, building stone of a valuable quality abounds on almost all 
of this property, particularly those lying on the river. Since the 
property known as Headquarters has been owned by James Jones, 
free stone of an excellent quality has been found upon it, and 
large quantities of the article have been sent by boats to Philadel- 



The History of Valley Forge 141 

phia and other places for buildings of different kinds. On a part 
of the property formerly belonging to David Stephens (now Isaac 
Richardson) clay for the manufacture of crucible for the use of 
brass foundries has been obtained, but never to any great extent. 
As noticed in the commencement of this letter, large quantities 
of copper have been discovered in that section of country lying on 
the western side of the Valley Creek, in Chester county. On ac- 
count of this discovery. Remington & Co. have purchased large 
portions of land in this district; and I have understood, on some 
of the property purchased by them, rich veins, yielding at the rate 
of seventy per cent, have been found within fifteen feet of the 
surface, and that successful operations in that line are now being 
conducted. I have never yet visited them to be able to convey 
correct information from actual observation and enquiry. I, 
therefore, make this statement from such information as I have 
received from others in whose reports I could rely. I have seen 
some specimens of this mine, but have never had any in my pos- 
session. I have likewise understood that the operations of min- 
ing, in the manner that they are conducted, are objects worthy of 
a visit, and intend, as soon as possible, if nothing intervenes to 
prevent, to endeavor to accomplish it. The greatest body and 
most profitable vein of copper, I have been informed, has been 
found on a farm in Schuylkill township, Chester county, about 
two miles northwest of Valley Forge. How far similar discover- 
ies in other places have been made, I have not learned; but one 
thing is certain, that these discoveries had a tendency to enhance 
the value of land, and the company last alluded to have, within 
the present year, purchased, at an advanced price, all the land they 
could obtain in the immediate neighborhood of these discoveries, 
and it is sincerely to be hoped that their prospect may be fully 
realized and ultimately crowned with success. 

On the western side of the Schuylkill, near the lead mines of 
Perkiomen, similar operations are now in progression. These I 
believe are carried on by Pedrick & Co., on some of the property 
of the Wetherill family, but to what extent or with what prospect 
of success I have not understood, I only state this from report. 

Whether or not gold will ever be discovered, I cannot tell, 
neither is it a matter of great moment to any whether it ever is 
found, as the pursuit of it would interfere with the habits of 
industry. It is but a few years since this precious metal was sup- 
posed to have been found, but it proved a failure. A black man 
had purchased a barren and broken spot of land for the purpose 
of putting up a house upon it. In digging the cellar, he found 
among the earth, particles resembling brass filings, and also found 
similar ones among the sand at the bottom of a small stream of 
water that passed through it. These he and some other persons 
supposed, when first discovered, to be gold dust ; and for a short 



142 The History of Valley Forge 

time it produced considerable excitement, and large offers were 
made for his lot, but he declined selling; but it was soon found, 
upon strict investigation, that it turned out to be nothing more 
than mica, and thus ended the discovery of gold in that quarter. 
The discovery of the copper is of more recent date. 

In two more communications I expect to finish these narra- 
tives, and these will be principally confined to relating some cir- 
cumstances that have taken place in connection with the encamp- 
ment ground, the most of which have come under my immediate 
notice, and taken place since my recollection. These things will 
claim the attention of my next letter ; and as I commenced with 
an introductory. I expect to conclude with a valedictory. 



The History of Valley Forge 143 




LETTER XXXI 

GENERAL REVIEW 

S I contemplate concluding these narratives in my 
next letter, I shall devote the most of. the present one 
to taking a general review of the old encampment 
ground, and endeavor to give some further informa- 
tion concerning it, in addition to that already fur- 
nished, believing this to be the better way of conveying it to the 
public. In some of my former letters, I noticed that when the 
army took possession of the place principally occupied as the 
encampment ground, it was mostly a dense forest, heavily set 
with timber, consisting generally of hickory, various kinds of oak, 
and other timber common to the native forests of that section of 
country. Nearly all the land lying between the front and rear 
lines, and the northeastern and southwestern limits of the lines of 
the encampment was thus circumstanced. The farms of David 
Stephens, and the two next below him on the river, were the only 
properties within these prescribed lines that had any buildings 
upon them at the time. There was also at the time a portion of 
cleared land, about seventy acres, belonging to my grandfather, 
within these limits, since disposed of to John Havard, that was 
cultivated, but there were no buildings upon it. 

NEW TIMBER GROWTH 

It is hardly necessary again to say that the timber was all de- 
stroyed by the army. After the departure of the army, as noticed 
in former numbers, the greater part of the land that had been 
previously cleared and cultivated, was again enclosed for agricul- 
tural purposes, but much the greater portion of what had been 
timber land, was left to lie without enclosure for many years, 
some of it even to the present time. In the course of a short 
time, the timber commenced growing upon it with great rapidity, 
being much more heavily set with young and thrifty sprouts, than 
it had been before it was destroyed. The soil being naturally 
good, it was in summer well set with grass, which afforded abund- 
ant pasturage for the numerous herds of cattle, sheep, and some- 
times horses, that were turned upon it by the inhabitants generally 
to graze at that time, when large portions of land could only with 
great difficulty be fenced for farming. It also remained an ac- 
commodation to numbers for many years after, as I experiment- 
ally know. While penning these lines they recall to my mind, 



144 The History of Valley Forge 

the scenes of m}- youth and my childhood, and the many happy 
hours that were then spent, and that I have passed in them when 
alone, barefooted, and rudely clad in native homespun. I have 
been engaged in hunting cows and horses upon these grounds, 
where these remains of the sufferings of the people were then 
visible, and could be viewed without fear or danger; for peace 
with her olive branch, had driven out the demon of war with all 
his horrors ; the sword had been exchanged for the ploughshare, 
and the spear for the pruning hook ; and often upon these occa- 
sions have I been accompanied with an intimate acquaintance of 
mine from the city of Philadelphia, about a year younger than 
myself, who used sometimes to spend his summer vacations in our 
family, and who, though young at the time, used to take great 
interest in viewing these things, and listening to the relations that 
were given by my father and mother, of that period. In our 
rambles on these occasions, in examining the remains of the en- 
campment, and searching for relics of that period to more fully 
remind us of that time, and to preserve them as mementos of it. 
The remembrance of these things carries me back in retrospection 
to that period, and leads me involuntarily to exclaim, Oh, happy 
days, now past and gone forever, no more to be recalled in this 
state of being — days of my youth, when perplexing cares and dis- 
quietude came not near my dwelling, when earth's engrossing 
cares and entanglements were strangers, and the ingratitude of 
man to his fellow-man was unknown, and when I had not fully 
and experimentally realized the truth of the language of the poet : 
"What is friendship but a name, 

A charm that lulls to sleep, 
A shade that follows wealth and fame. 

But leaves the wretched weep." 
But why indulge these morbid feelings? — enough of these re- 
flections. Disappointments, distress, and tribulations of various 
kinds, are the common lot of mankind, and ever ^^^ll remain to 
be. But where is the friend of my youth, who used to ramble 
with me over these grounds? Death has long since called him 
hence, more than twenty years since he paid the last debt of 
nature. I mention not his name. He was a 3'outh of bright tal- 
ents, improved by education, and flattering prospects in the world ; 
and as he grew up to manhood, was the life and source of enter- 
tainment among his friends and acquaintance ; his company was 
sought after and courted in the fashionable world, on account of 
his wealth and accomplishments ; but, alas ! having nothing beyond 
these to rely upon, he became the victim of intemperance, and 
while young in years, he sank into an inebriate's grave. 

But to resume the subject. The growth of the timber was 
very rapid, and none of the land that was cleared at that time 
was cultivated for agricultural purposes, woodland being consid- 



The History of Valley Forge 145 

ered of greater value, and a sparse population, it was suffered to 
grow up. I first remember traversing this ground, in the fall of 
the fifth year of my age, in company with my two older brothers, 
to gather chestnuts. This was about twenty-two years after the 
timber had been destroyed. The chestnut and hickory trees had 
grown sufficiently large to produce an abundance of nuts; and 
that with other timber growing upon it, was then being cut for 
fuel and rail timber. It also abounded with native grapes, and 
large quantities were annually gathered from what was called the 
camp. It used to be a common thing for parties of both sexes to 
be formed to go hunting them. On these occasions it used to be 
customary for the men and boys to climb the small trees and 
saplings, and bend them down, and the company then unite in 
gathering the grapes. But this employment has now ceased ; the 
cupidity of man has now leveled the greater part of this extensive 
forest, and it is now enclosed and raising agricultural products. 

While on the subject, I may mention one of these freaks of 
nature, or changes in kinds of timber which sometimes takes 
place upon a second growth; this is evident on this ground. I 
have understood that previous to the Revolution, very little chest- 
nut timber grew on that part of the ground cleared off^ by the 
army, on the eastern side of the Valley Creek. Since that time 
large portions of chestnut and other timber not then growing upon 
it, has since grown there, while the native timber previous to that 
time, has been comparatively small. This change in the growth 
of the timber was noticed by the late Judge Peters, of the county 
of Philadelphia; he published an account of it in the Archives 
of Useful Knowledge. He was encamped there during the time 
of its destruction, and had seen it previous ; upon visiting it some 
time after he was forcibly struck with the changes of the timber 
that was then growing upon it. 

PILGRIMAGES AND GATHERINGS 

The ground occupied by the army encamped there, has always 
been an object of attraction, and, as such, has often been visited 
by various persons. Many a venerable patriot, who composed a 
a part of that Spartan Band encamped there, has in his old days 
travelled miles to again behold it, and to review the scenes of that 
suffering period. I have seen some of them thus engaged in visit- 
ing the place, and marked the emotion visible in their venerable 
countenances, and seen the tears trickle down their aged and 
withered cheeks, when on the verge of the grave, they have 
looked upon it, and these things have again been called to their 
remembrance ; and remarked the joy that was also manifest when 
contrasting the happy and prosperous situation, not only of that 
portion of the country, but the nation at large, with the gloomy 



146 The History of Valley Forge 

state of things they had there witnessed. These have in all prob- 
abality all gone down to the grave. 

In order that the recollections of that period may not be for- 
gotten, associations of various kinds have been held upon the 
ground ; such as military parades, celebrations and political itieet- 
ings, the most of the latter during several presidential campaigns 
within the last twenty-five years. I can say but little concerning 
any of these meetings — nothing from actual observation, though 
the most of them have occurred since my time ; but having never 
been in the practice of attending any meetings, either political or 
military (except to exercise my rights of suffrage for civil of- 
ficers), I shall say but little concerning them. The political meet- 
ings were always of a party kind; and on such times care was 
taken as far as practicable, to collect surviving officers and soldiers 
of the Revolution to attend. The military parades were general- 
ly volunteer companies, who met to drill on what is called the old 
ground. On one occasion of this kind, when a troop of cavalry 
that was forming in Chester county met upon the ground, a 
quarrel ensued between the captain of the company and a Polish 
exile named La Reuf, who was employed to teach them cavalry 
tactics. It proved nearly fatal to the latter. Fifty-three years 
have elapsed, it was before my recollection ; but I have often heard 
the story related by some who had seen the encounter. The cap- 
tain of that company, who has since filled very important stations 
in civil government, and been a candidate for other high offices, 
is still living, being over eighty years of age. Another individual 
that then belonged to it, near the same age, and living near him, is 
the only other surviving person present on the occasion. 

VISIT OF LAFAYETTE 

When Lafayette, as the nation's guest, in the years of 1824 
and 1825, was in this country, preparations were made to induce 
him to visit the Valley Forge, intending, if it could be effected, to 
welcome him by having a large and enthusiastic meeting upon his 
arrival. It is unnecessary to say much concerning his visit to this 
country, as it is well remembered by many of my readers — the flat- 
tering reception he met with in all his journey, and the universal 
respect paid to him on the occasion is not forgotten, as it was then 
the general topic of conversation, and has since been so often 
repeated that but few persons are now to be found of sufficient 
age and observation, but what are conversant with the circum- 
stances of his visit to this country. At this time there was re- 
siding in that section of country, several persons then advanced 
in years, who had been acquainted with him during his abode there 
at the time of the encampment, who felt desirous of seeing him. 
Among this number were my mother and her sister, the late Mary 
Rossiter, about two years younger. They had been intimately 



The History of Valley Forge 147 

acquainted with him at the time, he having frequently visited De 
Kalb at their father's house, mingUng in social converse with the 
family on these occasions; for in private Hfe or when released 
from duty for a short time, he was of a sociable and very agree- 
able disposition, and highly relished the opportunity thus afforded 
him of mingling in family circles. This gave them some knowl- 
edge of his general character and habits, at least as they were in 
early life. On this account they wished to see him, if they could 
have met him as in former times, in their social family circle ; and 
when conversing upon the subject, they observed to one another, 
after some remarks upon the attention and applause everywhere 
bestowed upon him, that they were very certain that it would af- 
ford him more satisfaction to spend a few hours in social conver- 
sation, on the events of the Revolution, the scenes of the en- 
campment, and of Baron De Kalb, and other officers that used to 
be in company together at their father's during that period, than 
to be hurried from place to place, to gratify public curiosity, to 
attend public meetings, and receive the plaudits of the multitude. 

In order to ascertain his views on the subject of a visit to the 
place, a committee was appointed to visit him on the subject, and 
invite him to visit the spot, once the scene of suffering to him and 
his companions in arms. One of the number, the late George B. 
Loundes, who, at the time, resided at Headquarters, had an inter- 
view with him at West Chester, and spent about an hour with him 
in private company. Lafayette inquired concerning the place, 
the changes it had passed through, its present state, the old en- 
campment ground, and for many of the families residing there 
at the time with whom he had been acquainted; and, upon finding 
that there were some of them still remaining in the neighborhood 
of the place, though like himself, advanced in years, he desired 
his love affectionately to them all, and regretted that he could not 
have the opportunity of visiting them; and also, to inform his 
once young, now old friends, that it would afford him inexpressi- 
ble satisfaction, if he could be permitted to visit them, at their 
respective habitations, mingle with them in social converse as in 
bygone days, and spend a short portion of time with them in re- 
tirement from the pomp and ceremony that surrounded him, and 
visit the old encampment ground, the famed scene of suffering 
and distress that v/as indelibly imprinted on his memory ; and that 
it would not only be his desire to do so, but, if it could be accom- 
plished in this manner, he would avail himself of the opportunity. 
The opportunity was not afforded him, and he could not comply. 

The time of his departure to his native land was then near at 
hand, and he therefore declined a visit to the place, much to the 
regret of many who desired to see him. For the same reasons he 
declined a visit to the Honorable Isaac Wayne, at his residence in 
Easttown township, Chester county, at the mansion occupied by his 



148 The History of \'alley Forge 

father, the late General Anthony Wayne. In a former letter, I 
mentioned that I might give some further notice concerning this 
place. It is a large and commodious house, that has been in pos- 
session of the family for more than an hundred years ; an elegant 
engraving of it. and also a very correct one. may be seen in Sher- 
man Day's historical researches of Pennsylvania, to which my 
readers are referred. The present occupant and owner, the only 
son of the General, and the last of the name of that branch of 
the family, is more than eighty years of age, and, of course, feels 
the intirmities of age. He has, in his life time, filled numerous 
offices of trust and responsibility, in the general and state govern- 
ment, and was the unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Penn- 
sylvania in 1S14. He and the Hon. Jonathan Roberts, near the 
same age. and known by the stations he has tilled in public life, and 
who resides in Upper Merion township, about five miles from 
\'alley Forge, are all the persons I know of now living within 
that distance of the place, that were of sufficient age at the time of 
the encampment to remember the transaction of it ; and they must, 
ere long, cease to be amongst us. 

This communication has been extended to an unusual length, 
and I must now conclude for the present ; and in my next, if 
possible, draw the whole subject to a conclusion. 



The History of Valley Forge 149 




LETTER XXXII 

CONCLUSION 

RESUME my pen in order to commence my last 
communication on the subject that has so long occu- 
pied our attention. Much more might have been 
said upon it, as I have obtained some further infor- 
mation since their publication, from a few aged per- 
sons whom I have met, but as the proper time for inserting them 
has passed, I, therefore, shall reluctantly omit them, and proceed 
to a conclusion. 

I may here remark that an intimate female friend of mine, 
residing in the borough of Doylestown, enquired of me whether I 
would conclude with a heroine to my story. This request, I un- 
derstood, was made at the suggestion of others of the borough. 
In answer to the inquiry and request, I may inform them that it 
was not my intention to introduce any works of fiction or romance 
in these narratives, and I shall adhere to it. All that has been 
inserted are facts that I have heard related, or that have trans- 
pired under my immediate notice, and as such, have endeavored 
to give a full and impartial narrative concerning them. It is true 
there may have some errors occurred in relating the history, but I 
trust nothing material, and they may be overlooked. If any of 
my readers desire a hero or heroine to complete these sketches, I 
think they can find them in the true accounts given of my mother's 
journey to hunt Jehu, and the female friend alluded to who re- 
released her husband from York prison: these accounts, with a 
little further addition concerning the sequel of their lives may 
answer for heroines to my history. I shall, therefore, proceed to 
give a few more additional particulars concerning them. 

HEROINES OF THE HISTORY 

The latter, who released her husband, soon after her arrival 
in Philadelphia, was, with other Americans who favored the royal 
cause, sent to England. After a residence there of several years, 
they removed to Nova Scotia, and from thence to Montreal in Can- 
ada. At the latter place, I think, her husband died, and she, with 
her family, removed to the neighborhood of Spring Garden 
township, in Chester county ; where, sometime after, she married 
the person at whose house they arrived the morning after their 
flight from York, he having, in the meantime, become a widower. 



150 The History of Valley Forge 

She then removed to reside with him at the place where she spent 
the residue of her days, a useful and highly esteemed member of 
the religious Society of Friends, a kind neighbor and affectionate 
mother, and, after having fulfilled these various duties, she closed 
a useful and exemplary life in a good old age, in the spring of 
1813. 

To complete the story of my heroine, I hope I may be excused 
if I pay a small tribute to my parents, from whom I received the 
greater part of the foregoing accounts concerning the Revolution. 
In the first place, though not properly in the order of time, yet 
to connect the matter now engaged, I shall give the sequel of the 
life of my worthy mother. She was one, born and died on the 
same spot of earth, and her long life was attended with many 
vicissitudes, and had to encounter many severe hardships and 
trials through her long life, particularly about the period of the 
Revolution, and her four days eventful journey mentioned in my 
fourth and fifth numbers, may be taken as a sample of what she 
and many others, similarly situated, had to pass through ; but pos- 
sessing strong powers of mind and health of body, she was en- 
abled to persevere through all ; and though fortune smiled not 
upon her, and disappointment and distress often marked her pass- 
ing through life, yet she attained a great age, retaining to the last 
her mental faculties and memory, though for several years of her 
life deprived of the blessings of sight and hearing, and in other 
respects much debilitated, yet her recollection was vivid, and hav- 
ing the use of her conversational powers and a happy facility in 
conveying her sentiments, her company, even in old age, was very 
interesting. She abounded in anecdotes, reminiscences and his- 
torical facts of the period of the Revolution, particularly the time 
of the encampment ; and having been intimately acquainted with 
Washington, DeKalb, Lafayette, Wayne, Greene, Mifflin, Sulli- 
van, and many others of the general officers of that period, she 
w^as often visited by persons of all ages and both sexes, who were 
eager to obtain information concerning those times ; so much so 
that she used frequently to observe, in a jocose manner, that she 
believed people considered her a history of the encampment at 
Valley Forge. Her death occurred, on the same farm on which 
she was born and lived the greater part of her life, a little more 
than three years since, in the eighty-ninth year of her age. 

I hope to be indulged, if I, in this place, make a few remarks 
concerning my father. Although his death occurred many years 
before my mother's, yet I have placed it here in order to place the 
accounts of my heroines in connection. J\ly father, if living at 
this time (1850), would have been one hundred years old. The 
early part of his life, previous to joining the army, and till near 
its close, was spent in various places, both on sea and land. The 
place of his nativity was in the state, then colony, of Maryland; 



The History of Valley Forge 151 

and I have heard him relate many incidents of his early life. He 
was left an orphan when very young, and never had any knowl- 
edge of his parents or family connections. He left that country 
when young and never returned to it. Among other things re- 
lated, I have heard him mention his having seen, when young. 
General Braddock with his army land at Annapolis. After some 
time spent in various places, he settled, when young, in Hillsbor- 
ough, in the state of North Carolina. While residing there he 
was one of a number of young men who accompanied Daniel 
Boone and Henderson to Kentucky. Soon after this expedition, 
he entered the army, and continued in it till near the close of the 
war. He finally settled, about forty years before his death, at the 
place where a part of our family still reside, where he spent the 
remainder of his days. He was deprived of life by a fatal acci- 
dent, on the 23d of twelfth month, (December) 1820, aged sev- 
enty-one years. In addition to what I have heard him relate con- 
cerning the encampment at A^alley Forge that has been inserted, 
much more might have been added concerning that particular 
time, but it must be omitted. And if time afforded me the oppor- 
tunity of embodying in language the various accounts of his early 
life, the incidents of the Revolution that he witnessed, the many 
battles and marches he engaged in, and also some events of his 
subsequent life, it would afford material for several months pub- 
lication in similar communications to this and the preceding ones, 
and furnish some additional historical facts concerning the Revo- 
lution, that have never been published, but I shall now take leave 
of the subject and draw towards a close. 

Having now given a history of all the farms that were in the 
immediate vicinity of Valley Forge, particularly those that were 
embraced in the lines of the encampment, and such as were the 
theatre of important and interesting events during that period, 
and in some of my former letters have had reference to the early 
settlement of some of them, the state of things at the time of the 
Revolution, the tried situation of the inhabitants during that 
period, the quarters of the different general officers, the_ desolate 
state of the country after the removal of the army, its improve- 
ment since that time, also its present situation and owners, and 
likewise the discoveries of various mineral substances that have 
recently been discovered in that section of country, I am sensible 
that many of these things may not be of sufficient interest to many 
persons unacquainted with the localities of the place, and the fam- 
ilies and persons who have been alluded to. I have, therefore, 
inserted them that should any who are strangers to them visit 
that portion of country, they may, upon inquiry, ascertain the 
different places referred to in the preceding communications ; and 
I hope they will accept of these last remarks as an excuse for 
their publication, if any be necessary. 



152 The History of Valley Forge 

In preparing this account of a portion of country intimately 
connected with our national existence, and identified with the 
history of the Revolution, I am aware of not doing justice to the 
subject and of embodying it in language as clear and compre- 
hensive as I could have wished for the information of my numer- 
ous readers, not only of the papers of this county, but in many 
other places I have been infomied these documents have been 
published, yet I hope I shall so far succeed in my undertaking as 
to induce some among those who never have, to visit the place 
and behold what I have endeavored to describe. 

I would, therefore, request those who have leisure and incli- 
nation to visit the place. A few hours ride from the borough of 
Doylestown would convey them there, a journey that would amply 
repay their toil. At Port Kennedy they would find an excellent 
hotel', furnished with every accommodation. In traveling the 
country many traces of the encampment would be found, to re- 
mind them of the troublesome times our ancestors passed through 
to purchase our freedom. And those who witnessed that period 
would not be met with, as these are nearly all go-ne down to the 
grave, and the few survivors are far advanced in years, and none 
residing in the immediate vicinity, yet in their rambles they would 
meet with many to whom these things are known, among whom 
are some of the descendants of the Moores, the Stephenses, the 
Walkers and other families which have been noticed, who still 
rside in that portion of country, and who, as well as the writer, 
would delight to point out the situations, localities, objects and im- 
provements that have been mentioned. 

It is not, as in a former letter, in imagination but in reality, 
that I now request some of my readers who have never visited 
these places to visit the place, and first to stand upon the spot 
once known as Mordecai Moore's fort, and from this eminence 
view the portion of country that I have been describing — once a 
scene of desolation from the effects of the encampment, and where 
many a patriot of the Revolution suffered more than language 
can describe, from the cold, chilling wind and driving snows, and 
other accumulated sufferings, already noticed, and while you figure 
to your imagination the state of things then existing there, con- 
trast it with its now prosperous condition. On every side as far 
as the sight extends, is seen the marks of industry exhibited in a 
highly cultivated country, large buildings and fruitful abounding 
with plenty and teeming with flocks and herds. On the south 
and east will be seen the fruitful farms of the Great Valley, ex- 
ceeded by few, in any. in the state, and on the north and west the 
beautiful Schuylkill and Reading Railroad, the former majestically 
bearing on its placid bosom its large boats laden with coal, lime 
and numerous other products ; the latter with the nimierous pleas- 
ure and burden cars, propelled by locomotives, freighted in like 



The History of Valley Forge 153 

manner and moving with incredible velocity from one place to 
another ; while near upon the Schuylkill may be seen the thriving 
village of Port Kennedy, and also see and behold the hum of 
business carried on at the place. In addition to these artificial 
improvements, may be beheld on both sides of the river nature's 
scenery equally beautiful and interesting, that while gazing on 
on these things the viewer will be almost involuntarily led to ex- 
claim with Dyer in his poetic description of "Grouger Hill," 
nearly as follows : 

"Ever charming, ever new-- 
When will the landscape tire the view ; 
The 'river,' village, dome and farm, 
Each gives each a double charm." 

From this place traverse the old encampment ground ; view 
the remains of the fortifications and the breastworks and the out- 
lines of the huts, visit Headquarters at Valley Forge, view the 
different manufactories of the place, the copper mines in the 
vicinity, the lime kilns at Port Kennedy, and many other things 
that may be found in the limits of that section of country, which 
has been described, but which time would fail me to enumerate, 
and which must be seen to be duly appreciated. I, therefore, 
leave them for the further personal examination of any who feel 
sufficiently interested in the subject to visit them, fully persuaded 
that few, if any, would regret their visit. I shall now proceed to 

MY VALEDICTORY 

In drawing these narratives to a conclusion I may acknowledge 
the flattering accounts I have received of their reception, not only 
in this my adopted county, but in other parts of the country, and 
in the halls of our National Legislature. It confirms me in an 
opinion that I entertained in the commencement of the work, that 
the subject is one of deep interest, and worthy of being rescued 
from oblivion. And this small section of country will always 
occupy a conspicuous place in the history of our national exist- 
ence. In this, our large and vastly extended Republic, there are, 
no doubt, in the greater part of it the descendants of those who 
were there during that gloomy period, and to whom they will 
prove interesting, and recall to their memories many things that 
.they have heard related by those who witnessed these things. But 
I regret that it was not undertaken at an earlier period, particu- 
larly while my friend, the late Matthias Holstein, of Norristown, 
was living, who was always desirous that these accounts should 
he preserved and given to the public, and who urgently requested 
me to undertake it. His death occured before I commenced the 
collection, which I deferred for a considerable time, hoping an 
able writer, who was in possession of the same and more mate- 



154 The History of \'alley Forge 

rials for the compilation of a work of this kind, would have 
undertaken it. I may also add that I have been frequently solic- 
ited of late to have them published in a volume, in order more 
fully to preserve them. And the question is often asked whether 
it will be done. In reply, I can only say at present, that the 
manuscripts will be preserved, but if they should ever be pub- 
lished, it will be necessary for them to undergo a revision, as 
many of them were written in haste, and sent to the printer with- 
out previous correction, which may account for many errors and 
omissions, as well as grammatical constructions in the publication 
of different communications. Should they ever be published in a 
volume, some extraneous matter and repetitions will be omitted, 
and considerable additional information, some of which was pur- 
posely omitted in order to make the account as short as possible, 
and some that has been furnished since commencing the publica- 
tion, but not received in proper time, will be inserted. 

\\'hile penning this last communication my mind is clothed 
with serious impressions, when thought carries me back to the 
Revolution, and memory brings to my recollection those who were 
then the owners or occupants of that land that was the scene of 
the events that have been described. The most of them I re- 
member, but more than thirty years have rolled around since the 
last of them have gone down to the grave; and of their children 
there are but three of them left remaining, and these are more 
than four score years of age. ^lyself and the contemporaries of 
my youthful days, who still survive, are now growing old, and in 
a quarter of a century more how few of us will be in this state of 
existence ; the most of us will be mouldering in the dust, and our 
children and grandchildren will till our places. A\'e cannot look 
into futurity and behold the future destiny of our now prosperous 
and happy country, but when we look back on the last quarter of 
a century, how are we struck with admiration and amazement, 
when we see the great advancement and the many improvements 
that have taken place during that period. And how great has 
been the extent of our country, and the increase of population 
since the adoption of our present Constitution. Our territory 
and population are no longer confined to the original thirteen 
states, and the limited territory we then possessed. It now ex- 
tends from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Brit- 
ish possessions on the north and east, to the ]^Iexican on the south, 
— the most of it abounding with inhabitants, moral and intelli- 
gent, all members of this great Republic, and equally interested in 
its preservation. All these acquisitions which it is needless to 
detail, and the many improvements that we see around us have 
taken place since the commencement of the present century, and 
are still moving onward. A\'ho can calculate the advancement 



The History of Valley Forge i55 

they may continue to make in a few years, if they continue to 
progress in the same ratio— what the youth of the present genera- 
tion will live to behold when we are no more ! 

The perpetuation of our free institutions, the cultivation of 
universal peace with all nations, the subject of general education, 
the acquirement of industrious and correct habits, are subjects 
kiext to our gratitude to the Great Author of all good for the 
many blessings we enjoy ought to claim our serious consideration, 
in order that they may descend as rich legacies to our latest pos- 
terity. 

And let us ever remember the hardships and sufferings our 
predecessors passed through in order to obtain it, a part of which 
may be learned by perusing the foregoing narrative. It was by 
being united they obtained it, and by continuing united it will be 
preserved. And by contrasting the present state of our country, 
and the changes that have taken place since the period of the Rev- 
olution, and when we view its present happy and prosperous con- 
dition compared with the gloomy state of things then existing, let 
it teach us to value the blessings of peace and industry, and fondly 
hope that it will ever continue to dwell in our land and the day 
arrive when "nation shall not lift up the sword against nation, 
and the sons of men learn war no more." 

In taking leave of my readers, and concluding the subject, I 
may remark, that when I review what I have been writing, and 
contemplate the changes that have taken place since my recollec- 
tion, and when thought carries me back to that time when the foot 
of civilized man never had trod the ground that had been de- 
scribed, recur to its early settlement, and lastly reflect upon the 
number of my friends and acquaintances of all ages and different 
periods, that since my time have been laid in the dust, I am 
forcibly reminded of one of the poetic effusions of my early friend 
and associate, Charles W. Thomson, now Rector of the Episcopal 
Church at York, in this state, entitled the "Islet of Ona," a poetic 
name given by him to a small island in the Schuylkill, near Fair- 
mount, on which the lines were written by him, containing a de- 
scription of the surrounding country previous to its being settled 
by civilized inhabitants, and contrasting it with its then present 
state, and alluding to its primitive settlers and its original inhabi- 
tants, who had been numbered wth the dead, he concluded with 
the following lines, that so correspond with my present feelings, 



156 The History of Valley Forge 

that I know of nothing more appropriate for me to conclude this 
my last communication with. They are as follows : 



'And when another century, 

As unperceived has passed away — 

Fleeting from day to day : 
Alas ! the scene must shift again 
And we who now our seats retain, 

Will sleep as sound as they." 



n 



e^ 



HD-23 2 



» R n 9n 



■^0^ 




'^c^ 



^0. 






\,<^^ * 













C" - 




j.Ov\ 











•^ 



/ o_ 
















1^ . « • 












' ^'^^m^- -^ 4P^ *yi' ^ V" . 










^vP.^'^' 






,* <^^' "^^ -y^w* '^^ ^^ 



; .^^-V. V 



v-^^ 






•VL'. o. 



-°. -v 



V* .^^^L', c- 



■^^^-^^ 






rA(<^ 











*' .P^V;;^^'"^ 



^AO^ 



0^ * 









.0^ *i>. 'o • » 









^UGUSTINE 



^'" >^*^ f, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




011 800 118 7 



jm 



m 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




0011 8001187 







I'. 



